Don't Say There's Nothing to Do in the Doldrums

Milo as he sings with the Lethargians

Don't Say There's Nothing to Do in the Doldrums is a song featured in the 1970 animated Chuck Jones film.

The song is sung by the Lethargians (With Milo joining in) and the second song featured in the film.

Plot

During his time in the Doldrums, Milo asks a Lethargian what can the Lethargians do in the Doldrums if laughing and thinking are against the law, the Lethargian responds by singing to Milo with the other Lethargians joining in. During the song, Milo gets into a sleepy state and soon he adjusts to the Lethargians' "Rich, productive life" and starts to sing along with the Lethargians who begin to show their true nature and proceed to swarm and engulf his car as it melts and Milo slowly falls asleep unaware of the Lethargians' true nature. The song ends where Milo falls asleep until Tock, who the Lethargians call the terrible watchdog barges into the swamp to wake and scare the Lethargians and get Milo out.

Lyrics

Milo: But, if you can't laugh, or think, what can you do in the Doldrums?

Lethargian:#1 Do? Why, you can do (starts to sing) anything, as long as it’s nothing.

Everything, as long as it isn’t anything.

Lethargian #2: So don’t say there’s nothin’ to do in the doldrums.

Lethargian #3: Don't say we wither away the day.

Both Lethargians: We don't! (No!), we dawdle a bit and then (Yeah and then we).

Three Lethargians: We loiter a while, and dawdle again.

We gather our strength to start anew!

On all of the loafing and lounging we still have left to do.

Lethargian #4: So don’t say there’s nothing to do in the doldrums, it’s just... Not... True.”

Milo: (Yawns; sleepily) "I can see, you lead a rich and productive life."

Milo and the Lethargians: "Don't say there's nothing to do in the Doldrums.

I'm ready to diddle away the days I am. (We don't)

I dawdle of this, (Dawdle of this) and then (Dawdle of this).

I loiter a while, (Loiter a while), and dawdle again.(And dawdle and dawdle again).

I gather my strength (Gather strength) to start anew (Start anew).

Milo: On all of the loafing and lounging, I still have left to do.

Milo and the Lethargians: So don't stay there's nothing to do in the Doldrums, it's just... (Yawns) Not... True...

Gallery

Don't Say There's Nothing To Do In The Doldrums (The Phantom Tollbooth)

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