If I Only Had the Nerve

"If I Only Had the Nerve"
General information
Feature films	The Wizard of Oz
Song information
Composer	Harold Arlen
Lyrics	E.Y. Harburg
Performers	Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) Tin Man (Jack Haley) Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland)

"If I Only Had the Nerve" is a song featured in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz with music composed by Harold Arlen and lyrics written by E.Y. Harburg. The song was performed by the character Cowardly Lion, played by Bert Lahr, when he meets Dorothy (Judy Garland), the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), and the Tin Man (Jack Haley).

Lyrics

Cowardly Lion:
Yeah, it's sad, believe me, Missy
When you're born to be a sissy
Without the vim and verve

But I could show my prowess
Be a lion, not a mouse
If I only had the nerve

I'm afraid there's no denyin'
I'm just a dandelion
A fate I don't deserve

I'd be brave as a blizzard
I'd be gentle as a lizard
I'd be clever as a gizzard

Dorothy:
If the Wizard is a Wizard who will serve

Scarecrow:
Then I'm sure to get a brain

Tin Man:
A heart

Dorothy:
A home

Cowardly Lion:
The nerve!

v - e - d

Media Films: The Wizard of Oz (soundtrack/video) • Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz • Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz Shows: 1990 Turner Entertainment TV series • Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz Characters Dorothy Gale • Toto • Scarecrow • Tin Woodman • Cowardly Lion • Glinda the Good Witch of the North • The Wicked Witch of the West • The Wizard of Oz • Aunt Em • Uncle Henry • Miss Almira Gulch • Professor Marvel • Hunk • Hickory • Zeke • Flying Monkeys • The Munchkins Songs The Wizard of Oz: Nobody Understands Me • Over the Rainbow • The Wonders of the World • Come Out, Come Out • Ding Dong the Witch is Dead • Follow the Yellow Brick Road • If I Only Had a Brain • We're Off to See the Wizard • If I Only Had a Heart • If I Only Had the Nerve • Optimistic Voices • The Merry Old Land of Oz • Bring Me the Broomstick • If I Were King of the Forest Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz: If I Only Had the Height Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz: The Jitterbug • There's No Place Like Home • A Mighty Fine Affair • All Hail • Oh My, Oh My, Oh My • What's Mine is Mine Musical: Red Shoes Blues • Farewell to Oz • Already Home Objects Ruby slippers • The Wicked Witch of the West's broomstick Locations Dorothy's farmhouse • Professor Marvel's Trailer • Munchkinland • Land of Oz • Emerald City • Field of Poppies • The Haunted Forest • The Wicked Witch of the West's Castle See also Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer • Warner Bros. • Turner Entertainment