Let's Call The Whole Thing Off • You Say Potatoes

Find information, fun facts, and lyrics for the Gershwin song Let's Call The Whole Thing Off. You say potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto.

So, this is a food blog called You Say Potatoes. However, maybe you're not here for my Chicken Paprikash or Lemonade Pie.

If you've landed here because you have an earworm of the song with the lyrics, 'You Say Potatoes', then let's explore that!

You say potatoes, I say potahtoes; you say tomatoes, I say tomahtoes...

These iconic lyrics are from the iconic song 'Let's Call The Whole Thing Off' by Gershwin as part of the great American songbook.

But actually, although most people think it's 'you say potatoes', the lyrics are actually "You like potato, and I like potahto"!

Over the mists of time, people's recollection of the song often changes.

Scroll down for the actual lyrics.

Jump to:

Information
Fun Facts
Lyrics

Information

Title: Let's Call The Whole Thing Off.
First published in 1937.
Music by George Gershwin.
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin.

Fun Facts

The song was first recorded on March 3 1937 by Fred Astaire, with Johnny Green and His Orchestra.
It has been recorded over the years by many huge stars including Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Ink Spots, Mel Torme, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Harry Connick Jr, among many others.
The song was written for the 1937 film Shall We Dance with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
The song is most famous for its lyrics "You like tomato/ And I like to-mah-to" and other verses that compare accents and class.
Harry Connick Jr's version was famously used in the film When Harry Met Sally.
Sylvester Stallone sings a version of the song in the Muppet Show, while battling a lion dressed as a Roman gladiator.
Marge and Homer Simpson performed the potatoes/tomatoes part of the song for Bart, Lisa, and Maggie in an episode of the Simpsons.

Lyrics

Things have come to a pretty pass
Our romance is growing flat,
For you like this and the other
While I go for this and that,
Goodness knows what the end will be
Oh I don't know where I'm at
It looks as if we two will never be one
Something must be done:

You say either and I say either,
You say neither and I say neither
Either, either neither, neither
Let's call the whole thing off.

You like potato and I like potahto
You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto.
Let's call the whole thing off

But oh, if we call the whole thing off
Then we must part
And oh, if we ever part, then that might break my heart

So if you like pyjamas and I like pyjahmas,
I'll wear pyjamas and give up pyajahmas
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the whole thing off
Let's call the whole thing off.

You say laughter and I say larfter
You say after and I say arfter
Laughter, larfter after arfter
Let's call the whole thing off,

You like vanilla and I like vanella
You saspiralla, and I saspirella
Vanilla vanella chocolate strawberry
Let's call the whole thing off

But oh if we call the whole thing of then we must part
And oh, if we ever part, then that might break my heart

So if you go for oysters and I go for ersters
I'll order oysters and cancel the ersters
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the calling off off,
Let's call the whole thing off.

I say father, and you say pater,
I saw mother and you say mater
Pater, mater uncle, auntie let's call the whole thing off.

Get the rest of the lyrics at: LyricFind

Songwriters: George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

Reproduced here since the song is now in the public domain (over 70 years after publication).