[1] According to Ira Gershwin in his book Lyrics on Several Occasions, after the premiere of Funny Face in Philadelphia he received a call from the then professional manager of Shapiro, Bernstein and Co. asking him to remove the song because “It doesn't mean anything” and because “Well, we've bought a song with the same title and we're about to publish it.
[3] The lyrics used as first released by Gershwin started with the introductory verse: "As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties, / I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
In the subsequent version of the lyrics as performed by Ella Fitzgerald ten years later, the lyrics of this introductory verse were changed to the melancholy reflections of a worker in evening "bazaars" reflecting on the differences between kisses for money and romantic kisses from someone with emotional ties, which had previously eluded her.
[4] The introductory verse as performed by Fitzgerald was: 'Neath the stars, at bazaars Often I've had to caress men Five or ten, dollars then, I'd collect from all those yes-men Don't be sad, I must add, that they meant no more than chess-men
[5] In the original Gershwin version of the song, somewhat more upbeat, it is sung by a young woman comparing kisses among family members and friends at holidays, to how different they turn out to be when experienced while expressing romantic affections; she is surprised to find that romantic kisses are very different.