Why must I meet you in a secret rendezvous?
Why must we steal away to steal a kiss or two?
Why must we wait to do the things we want to do?
Why,  oh,  why,   oh, why,  oh, why   oh, why?

[Refrain]
Wish we didn't have to meet  SECRETLY, 
Wish we didn't have to kiss  SECRETLY,
Wish we didn't have to be afraid 
To show the world that we're in love!

Till we have the right to meet openly,
Till we have the right to kiss openly;
We'll just have to be content to be in love  SECRETLY!
Why,  oh,  why,   oh, why,  oh, why   oh, why?

Why must we wait until we're dancing cheek to cheek,
To whisper all the words of love we long to speak?
Why must our love be like a game of hide-and-seek?
Why,  oh,  why,   oh, why,  oh, why   oh, why?

[Refrain]
Wish we didn't have to meet  SECRETLY, 
Wish we didn't have to kiss  SECRETLY,
Wish we didn't have to be afraid 
To show the world that we're in love!

Till we have the right to meet openly,
Till we have the right to kiss openly;
We'll just have to be content to be in love  SECRETLY!
   

Circa 1958
Words and Music by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning & Mark Markwell