(Al Hoffman, Dick Manning and Mark Markwell)
Why must I meet you in a secret rendezvous
Why must we steal away to steal a kiss or two
Why must we wait to do the things we want to do
Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh, why, oh why
Wish we didn't have to meet secretly
Wish we didn't have to kiss secretly
Wish we didn't have to be afraid
To show the world that we're in love
'Til we have the right to meet openly
'Til we have the right to kiss openly
We'll just have to be content to be in love secretly
Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh, why, oh why
Wish we didn't have to meet secretly
Wish we didn't have to kiss secretly
Wish we didn't have to be afraid
To show the world that we're in love
'Til we have the right to meet openly
'Til we have the right to kiss openly
We'll just have to be content to be in love secretly
Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh, why, oh why
[Additional verse NOT sung by Rodgers:]
Why must we wait until we're dancing cheek to cheek
To whisper all the words of love we long to speak
Why must our love be like a game of hide-and-seek