i knew a man once very long ago they say that he was born in buffalo but i don t believe it buffalo was never sufficiently gilded and pearled and this man turned out to be the playboy of the western world oh he was elegant past all dreaming he made seeming seem like the real mccoy all the sheiks of araby all the shahs of persia couldnt hold a candle to this boy when he walked through a room it looked as handsome as napoleons tomb and the ford he rode could have been mercedes benz la mode when he took me out i didnt doubt that we were going to the astor or the sherry netherland spring seemed to linger in the little bunch of flowers he pressed into my hand little bunch of flowers didnt cost a dime picked them in the park in their prime he went around with his heart unfurled the one and only playboy of the western world you could fall in love with everyone youd meet when you walked with him down the street playboys die young this one did too all worn out making dreams come true and the world was grim again without him again without him for he was elegant past all dreaming he made seeming seem like the real mccoy all the sheiks of araby all the shahs of persia couldnt hold a candle to this boy when they took him out oh i didnt doubt that we were going he was going to miami or some other wonderland spring seemed to linger in the little bunch of flowers i pressed into his hand little bunch of flowers didnt cost a dime picked them in the park in their prime he went around with his heart unfurled the one and only playboy of the western world he was the playboy of the western world the playboy of the western world