Mad About My Boys

"Mad About the Boy" is a popular song with words and music by actor and playwright Sir Noël Coward. The song deals with the theme of unrequited love for a film star, and while it was written to be sung by female characters, Coward also wrote a version which contained references to the then risqué topic of homosexual love. It was introduced in the 1932 revue Words and Music by Joyce Barbour, Steffi Duna, Norah Howard and Doris Hare.

The song expresses the adulation by number of women of a matinee idol as they queue outside a cinema and is sung by several female characters in turn. The adoring fans sing of their love for their hero:

“ On the silver screen

He melts my foolish heart in every single scene ”

—"Mad about the Boy" (original version)

Coward later wrote additional verses for the New York production, to be sung by a male character. The lyrics make explicit reference to homosexual feelings with lines such as:

“ When I told my wife

She said "I've never heard such nonsense in my life!" ”

—"Mad about the Boy" (Broadway version)

The lyrics also make camp humorous reference to the supposed effeminacy of the character, who is likened to the contemporary film actress Myrna Loy, and to his repeated unsuccessful attempts at conversion therapy with his psychiatraist. The verses were never performed, as any reference to homosexuality fell foul of the censorship laws of the time, and the new version was banned.

Object of beauty ("the boy") was obviously Cary Grant, who made his silver screen debut in 1932, the same year the song was written, and the last time Grant might have been considered "a boy".

Ava Leigh is the only singer to record a reggae fusion version of the song,

released July 28, 2008

Mad About the Boy lyrics

Can't make up my mind, about the boy

Sometimes he brings me down, sometimes he brings me joy

I want him around, but he's never in town

Can't make up my mind, oh no

But I love him even though my friends say he's not right

I know it's true but can't deny he's on my mind

I love him I love him I love him I love him

I love him I love him I love him I love him

And there ain't no other that I'd put above him

I'm so mad about the boy

Can't make up my mind about this guy

Sometimes he makes me smile sometimes he makes me cry

Other guys have tried, but he's the one I like

I'm so mad about this guy

But I love him even though my friends say he's no right

I know its true but can't deny he's on my mind

I love him I love him I love him I love him

I love him I love him I love him I love him

And there ain't no other that I'd put above him

I'm so mad about the boy

Call it what you like but I ain't no love fool

You would understand if he was loving you

We've had our ups and downs, but i still want him around

He is the one, I know is true

I love him I love him I love him I love him

I love him I love him I love him I love him

And there ain't no other that I'd put above him