Everyone remembers the Cowardly Lion. Bert Lahr’s face—buried under pounds of literal human hair and a costume that weighed about 90 pounds—is one of the most recognizable images in cinema history. But when you actually sit down and listen to the If I Only Had the Nerve lyrics, you realize the song isn’t just a goofy musical number about a big cat who’s scared of his own shadow. It’s actually a pretty sophisticated piece of character writing that almost didn't make it to the screen in the way we know it today.
Music is weird like that.
The song appears in the 1939 MGM classic The Wizard of Oz, written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Harburg was a master of the "wish" song. He’s the same guy who wrote "Over the Rainbow," and if you look closely, "If I Only Had the Nerve" is the comedic, neurotic cousin to Dorothy’s ballad. It’s about the gap between who we are and who we think we’re supposed to be.
The Brilliantly Wordy Mind of Yip Harburg
Yip Harburg wasn't just some guy writing rhymes for kids. He was a political satirist. He was a guy who cared about the "little man." When he sat down to write the lyrics for the Lion, he didn't just want him to say "I'm scared." He wanted him to use words like "precipice" and "haughty."
The lyrics are a masterclass in internal rhyme. Think about the opening lines: "I'm afraid there's no denyin' / I'm just a dandelion." It's a pun, sure. But it’s also a perfect setup for a character who is biologically a king but psychologically a wreck. Harburg loved the idea that the Lion was an aristocrat who lost his confidence.
The Lion sings:
"I'd be friends with the sparrows / And the boy who shoots the arrows / If I only had the nerve."
That "boy who shoots the arrows" is a reference to Cupid. The Lion isn't just saying he's afraid of tigers or bears; he's saying he's too afraid to love or be loved. It’s heavy stuff for a family movie. Honestly, it’s why the movie stays relevant. We all feel like we’re faking it sometimes.
Bert Lahr and the Vaudeville Influence
You can't talk about the lyrics without talking about Bert Lahr. Lahr was a king of Vaudeville. His delivery of the word "nerve" as "noive" is legendary. It’s a New York accent in the middle of a fantasy Land of Oz. It shouldn't work. It makes zero sense geographically. Yet, it’s the only way those lyrics feel right.
Lahr’s performance was so big that it almost overshadowed the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. If you look at the structure of the three "If I Only Had a..." songs, the Lion’s is the most complex. The Scarecrow wants a brain to solve problems. The Tin Man wants a heart to feel. But the Lion? The Lion wants the nerve to act on what he already knows and feels.
There's a specific bit in the lyrics where he says, "I'd show my prowess / Be a lion, not a mowess."
Yes, he rhymes prowess with "mowess" (mouse). It’s ridiculous. It’s also genius because it shows the Lion’s struggle with language—he’s trying to sound grand and failing miserably. It’s relatable.
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The "Other" Verses You Might Not Know
Here is something most people miss: the song has different versions. In the original 1939 film, we get the iconic performance on the Yellow Brick Road. But in the 1945 stage play version and various radio adaptations, the lyrics often get shifted or extended.
During the filming, there were actually more verses planned for several songs in The Wizard of Oz. Most were cut for time because the movie was already running long. The "Jitterbug" sequence is the most famous casualty, but the Lion’s bravado-filled verses were also trimmed to keep the pace snappy.
If you look at the sheet music from the late 1930s, there are additional lines about being a "zulu" or a "regal" beast. Some of these references haven't aged particularly well, which is why they usually stay in the archives.
Why "Nerve" Matters More Than Courage
There’s a nuance in the word "nerve" that is different from "courage." Courage is a virtue. Nerve is an attitude.
In the If I Only Had the Nerve lyrics, the Lion is looking for the "chutzpah" to stand his ground. He talks about how he would "roar with style" and how "the ocean's coral caves" would hide the "timid" version of himself. He’s dreaming of a persona.
Interestingly, the Wizard eventually gives him a medal for "Courage," but the Lion had the "Nerve" all along. He was the one who climbed the cliffs to the Witch’s castle. He was the one who carried the heavy tail. The song is a lie he tells himself—a classic "imposter syndrome" anthem.
The Technical Brilliance of the Composition
Harold Arlen’s music for this track is intentionally bouncy and a bit "ragtime." It’s meant to contrast with the Lion’s supposed misery.
- Rhythm: The song follows a standard AABA song form, which was the bread and butter of the Great American Songbook.
- Tempo: It’s an "Allegro," fast and bright. This forces the singer to spit out the lyrics quickly, emphasizing the Lion's nervous energy.
- The "Roar": Lahr’s ad-libbed roars and "put 'em up" barks are now considered part of the lyrical DNA of the song, even if they aren't written in the standard libretto.
When you listen to the soundtrack, pay attention to the woodwinds. They’re literally laughing at him. The orchestration mimics the "dandelion" imagery. It’s light, airy, and completely un-intimidating.
The Legacy of the Lyrics in Pop Culture
These lyrics have been parodied more than almost any other movie song. From The Simpsons to Saturday Night Live, the "If I Only Had..." structure is a comedy staple. Why? Because it’s the perfect template for expressing insecurity.
Modern audiences sometimes find the Lion’s "sissy" persona (as he calls himself) a bit dated, but the core sentiment of the lyrics transcends the 1930s tropes. It’s about the desire to be "brave as a blizzard." Who doesn't want that?
A lot of people think the lyrics were written by the same person who did the book. Nope. L. Frank Baum wrote the original novel in 1900, but he didn't write these songs. In the book, the Lion is much more stoic. The "neurotic Brooklyn Lion" we love is entirely the creation of Harburg, Arlen, and Lahr.
How to Appreciate the Song Today
If you’re looking to really "get" this song, don't just watch the clip on YouTube. Listen to the 1939 studio recording. You can hear the breath control Lahr had to maintain while singing through a mask that barely allowed him to open his mouth.
He was actually on a liquid diet during much of the filming because the makeup was so fragile. Think about that. He’s singing about having "nerve" while he’s literally starving and covered in glue.
The If I Only Had the Nerve lyrics aren't just a part of a movie; they are a piece of cultural history that taught generations of kids that it's okay to be scared. You don't need the Wizard to give you something you already have. You just need to stop calling yourself a dandelion.
Actionable Next Steps
- Listen for the Puns: Re-watch the scene and try to catch every animal-related pun. Harburg hid at least four in the Lion's main verse alone.
- Compare the Trio: Listen to the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion's songs back-to-back. Notice how the vocabulary becomes increasingly complex with each character.
- Check the Credits: Look up Yip Harburg’s other work, like "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" to see how his "common man" philosophy influenced the Lion's lyrics.
- Explore the "Jitterbug": Search for the deleted "Jitterbug" footage or audio. It provides a missing link in the Lion's musical journey through the Haunted Forest.
The lyrics are more than just rhymes; they are a window into the anxiety of the human condition, wrapped in a lion suit.