Hello I Must Be Going

Track 1 on Whatever Works (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

One of legendary comedian Groucho Marx’s most famous numbers, it is featured in the Marx Brothers' second film, Animal Crackers, released in 1930. In the film he plays… Read More

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Hello I Must Be Going Lyrics

[Part I: Hello I Must Be Going]

[Intro: Groucho Marx & Margaret Dumont]
You're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, and that's not saying much for you
Captain Spaulding, Rittenhouse Manor is entirely at your disposal
Well, I'm certainly grateful for this magnificent washout, a turnout. And now, I'd like to say a few words:

[Groucho Marx]
Hello, I must be going
I cannot stay, I came to say, "I must be going"
I'm glad I came but just the same I must be going, la-la!

[Margaret Dumont]
For my sake you must stay
If you should go away
You'll spoil this party I am throwing!

[Groucho Marx]
I'll stay a week or two
I'll stay the summer through
But I am telling you:
I must be going

[Party guests]
Before you go
Won't you oblige us
And tell us all your deeds so glowing?

[Groucho]
I'll do anything you say!
In fact, I'll even stay!

[Party Guests]
Good!

[Groucho Marx]
But I must be going!

[Part II: Hooray for Captain Spaulding]

[Zeppo Marx]
There's something that I'd like to say
That he's too modest to relay
The Captain is a moral man
Sometimes he finds it trying

[Groucho Marx]
This fact I'll emphasize with stress:
I never drink unless somebody's buying

[Party Guests]
The Captain is a very moral man!

[Zeppo Marx]
If he hears anything obscene, he'll naturally repel it

[Groucho Marx]
I hate a dirty joke, I do
Unless it's told by someone who knows how to tell it

[Party Guests]
The Captain is a very moral man
Hooray for Captain Spaulding, the African explorer!

[Groucho Marx]
Did someone call me Schnorrer?

[Party Guests]
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

[Zeppo Marx]
He went into the jungles, where the monkeys throw nuts

[Groucho Marx]
If I stay here, I'll go nuts

[Party Guests]
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
He puts all his reliance
In courage and defiance
And risks his life for science

[Groucho Marx]
Hey! Hey! (Yoo-ha-ha!)

[Margaret Dumont]
He is the only white man to cover every acre

[Party Guests]
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
He puts all his reliance
In courage and defiance
And risks his life for science

[Groucho Marx]
Hey! Hey! (Yoo-ha-ha!)

[Party Guests]
Hooray for Captain Spaulding, the African explorer!
He put his name on dying fame and that is why we say:
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

[Groucho Marx]
My friends, I'm highly gratified of this magnificent display of effusion
And I want you to know...

[Party Guests]
Hooray for Captain Spaulding, the African explorer!
He put his name on dying fame and that is why we say:
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

[Groucho Marx]
My friends, I'm highly gratified of this magnificent display of effusion
And I want you to know...

[Party Guests]
Hooray for Captain Spaulding, the African explorer!
He put his name on dying fame and that is why we say:
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

[Groucho Marx]
My friends, I'm highly gratified of this magnificent display of effusion
And I want you to know
Hooray for Captain Spaulding, the African explorer!
Well, somebody's gotta do it

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One of legendary comedian Groucho Marx’s most famous numbers, it is featured in the Marx Brothers' second film, Animal Crackers, released in 1930. In the film he plays Captain Spaulding, an explorer for whom a great gala is being thrown upon his return from Africa. Margaret Dumont (Groucho’s frequent leading lady in Marx Brothers films) plays the society matron throwing the party. Spaulding detests high society and upon his arrival, he wants nothing more than to leave. In the film this song leads right into “Hooray for Captain Spaulding”, that is, once Groucho makes a few failed attempts to run for the door.