You're the Top Lyrics - Anything Goes

You're the Top Lyrics

You're the Top

[RENO]
Billy, where's the old Crocker confidence? You
Think he's got one tiny fraction of your brains,
your looks, your...your...
At words poetic, I'm so pathetic
That I always have found it best,
Instead of getting 'em off my chest,
To let 'em rest unexpressed,
I hate parading my serenading
As I'll probably miss a bar,
But if this ditty is not so pretty
But least it'll tell you
How great you are.

You're the top!
You're the Colosseum.
You're the top!
You're the Louvre Museum.
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss
You're a Bendel bonnet,
A Shakespeare's sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile,
You're the Tower of Pisa,
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,
But if, baby, I'm the bottom you're the top!

[BILLY]
Your words poetic are not pathetic.
On the other hand, babe, you shine,
And I can feel after every line
A thrill divine
Down my spine.
Now gifted humans like Vincent Youmans
Might think that your song is bad,
But I got a notion
I'll second the motion
And this is what I'm going to add;

You're the top!
You're Mahatma Gandhi.
You're the top!
You're Napoleon Brandy.
You're the purple light
Of a summer night in Spain,
You're the National Gallery
You're Garbo's salary,
You're cellophane.
You're sublime,
You're turkey dinner,
You're the time, the time of a Derby winner
I'm a toy balloon that is fated soon to pop
But if, baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

[RENO]
You're the top!
You're an arrow collar
You're the top!
You're a Coolidge dollar,
You're the nimble tread
Of the feet of Fred Astaire,
You're an O'Neill drama,

[BILLY]
You're Whistler's mama,

[RENO]
You're camembert.

[BILLY]
You're a rose,
You're Inferno's Dante,

[RENO]
You're the nose
On the great Durante.
I'm just in a way,
As the French would say, "de trop".
But if, baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

[BILLY]
You're the top!
You're a dance in Bali.
You're the top!
You're a hot tamale.
You're an angel, you,
Simply too, too, too diveen,
You're a Boticcelli,

[RENO]
You're Keats,

[BILLY]
You're Shelly,

[RENO]
You're Ovaltine.

[BILLY]
You're a boom,
You're the dam at Boulder,
You're the moon,
Over Mae West's shoulder,
I'm the nominee of the G.O.P.

[RENO]
Or GOP!

[BILLY]
But if, baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

[RENO]
You're the top!
You're a Waldorf salad.
You're the top!
You're a Berlin ballad.
You're the boats that glide
On the sleepy Zuider Zee,
You're an old Dutch master,

[BILLY]
You're Lady Astor,

[RENO]
You're broccoli.

[BILLY]
You're romance,
You're the steppes of Russia,
You're the pants on a Roxy usher,
I'm a broken doll, a fol-de-rol, a blop,

[BOTH]
But if, baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!


Lyrics Meaning and impact of "You're the Top" by Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell.

You're the Top Lyrics video by Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell
Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell singing the 'You're the Top' lyrics in the music video.

Song credits:

  • Producers: Joel Moss & Rob Fisher
  • Writer: Cole Porter
  • Vocals: Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell
  • Orchestration: Michael Gibson
  • Additional Orchestration: Bill Elliott
  • Recording Engineer: Derik Lee
  • Released on: August 23, 2011
  • Album: Anything Goes (2011 Broadway Cast Recording)
  • Track #: 4
  • Musical Genre: Broadway, Showtune, Musical
  • Language(s): English
  • Mood: Uplifting, Witty, Flirtatious

Song meaning.

Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell performing song You're the Top
Performance of 'You're the Top' by Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell in the music video.
"You’re the Top" is a sparkling duet from Cole Porter’s golden age musical *Anything Goes*. Performed in its 2011 Broadway revival by Sutton Foster and Colin Donnell, this song is a flirtatious volley of poetic metaphors wrapped in humor and cleverness. It's a lyrical ping-pong match where each line is more extravagant than the last, celebrating admiration through outrageous comparisons.

Structure and Humor:

The song opens with Reno (Foster) mock-chastising herself before launching into a list of affectionate metaphors — from "the Colosseum" to "Mickey Mouse." Each verse builds in absurdity and grandeur, casting Billy (Donnell) as everything splendid and grand, while she self-deprecatingly describes herself as “a worthless check.”

Cultural References and Wordplay:

Porter’s wordplay shines through references to art, culture, politics, and food — blending Shakespeare with Pepsodent, Camembert with Fred Astaire. The metaphors are hyperbolic yet sincere, showing affection through the over-the-top lens of 1930s elite society. Mentions of “Ovaltine,” “Garbo’s salary,” “a Waldorf salad,” and “next year’s taxes” bring a delightful comedic texture.

Romantic Banter as Emotional Engine:

The core of the song isn’t just witty writing—it’s chemistry. The playful banter and reciprocal praise build emotional connection between the characters. It’s not just what they say, but how they say it: with rhythm, spark, and syncopated affection.

Which songs share same themes?

Thumbnail from You're the Top lyric video by Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell
A screenshot from the 'You're the Top' music video, capturing the mood and meaning of the song.
  1. "Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off" by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong: Both songs play on relationship quirks through witty, charming dialogue. Instead of metaphors, this song uses pronunciation and playful contradictions to show romantic tension and unity. The jazz-infused banter matches the spirit of Porter's wordsmithing.
  2. "Cheek to Cheek" by Fred Astaire: This classic shares the sophisticated glamour and romantic idealism. While not as linguistically dense, it complements Porter's tune in tone, structure, and orchestration. Both songs idealize romance in an elegant and uplifting musical style.
  3. "People Will Say We’re in Love" from Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein: This duet channels similar emotional dynamics — teasing, flirtation, and irony. While Porter’s approach is humorous and opulent, this track draws on subtlety and restraint, yet both express burgeoning love through theatrical language and melody.

Questiong and Answers.

What’s the main message of "You’re the Top"?
It’s a musical love letter filled with hilarious and affectionate metaphors that elevate one person by comically lowering the other—classic Porter wit with heart.
Why does the song mention so many brand names and cultural icons?
Porter’s style often included then-contemporary references to make his songs culturally sharp, playful, and rooted in the zeitgeist of the 1930s. The flair makes it sparkle with specificity and satire.
What’s the emotional impact of the song?
It uplifts through its rhythm and charm, offering a sense of joy, mutual admiration, and theatrical wit that builds character connection and audience delight.
Scene from You're the Top track by Sutton Foster & Colin Donnell
Visual effects scene from 'You're the Top' enhancing the experience of the song words and music.

Which awards and chart positions did composition Achieve?

As part of the 2011 Tony-winning revival of *Anything Goes*, “You’re the Top” was widely praised by critics for its electrifying energy and nostalgic flair. While not released as a commercial single, its legacy lives on through cast recordings, revivals, and jazz adaptations.

Fan and Media Reactions.

“A lyrical joyride through history, romance, and comedy. Sutton and Colin dazzle with every bar.”
Broadway Weekly
“Only Cole Porter could make a song about Ovaltine sound glamorous.”
The Musical Observer
“The wordplay is sharper than a diamond and twice as fun.”
NYC Theatre Review
“Every time I hear it, I smile a little wider. The chemistry is unreal.”
Audience member review
“The top of musical theatre’s lyrical mountain.”
Critic Lenora James


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Musical: Anything Goes. Song: You're the Top. Broadway musical soundtrack lyrics. Song lyrics from theatre show/film are property & copyright of their owners, provided for educational purposes