Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

By Jule Styne and Leo Robin
1949

Although today connected permanently with Marilyn Monroe thanks to her performance in the 1953 film version of Gentleman Prefer Blondes, this playful number was introduced by Carol Channing, who played the original Lorelei Lee on stage in 1949. It later became a standard among female vocalists, and was even alluded to by Madonna in the music video for her 1984 hit, "Material Girl", and performed by Nicole Kidman in the 2001 musical, Moulin Rouge.

Lyrics:

The French are glad to die for love,

They delight in fighting duels,

But I prefer a man who lives and gives
Expensive jewels.

A kiss on the hand maybe quite continental

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

A kiss may be grand.. but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat

Or help you at the automat



Men grow cold as girls grow old

And we all lose our charms in the end

But square cut or pear shape these rocks don't lose there shape 

Diamonds are a girl's best friend



... Tiffany's!
... Cartiea!
Black, Starr, Frost Gorham

Talk to me Harry Winston tell me all about it!

There may come a time when a lass needs a lawyer

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

There may come a time when a hard boiled employer thinks you're awful nice

But get that ice or else no dice



He's your guy when stocks are high but beware when they start to descend

Because that's when those louses go back to their spouses

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

I've heard of affairs that are strictly platonic

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

And I think affairs that you must keep the masonic are better bets

If little girls get big bagettes

Time rolls on and youth is gone and you can't straighten up when you bend

But stiff back or stiff knees you stand straight at.. Tiffany's...

diamonds... diamonds... I don't mean rhinestones.. but diamonds... are a girls best... best friend.

Recorded By:

Lena Horne
Jo Stafford
Julie London
Eartha Kitt
Ethel Merman