THB #41: Sondheim, His Words

Like Elvis Costello and Randy Newman, Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics make for some of my favorite poetry. Instead of going on about how much I love the work, I thought I would just offer some of his words, some more clearly recognizable than others. All singable, if you like…

Sondheim Side by Side by Side

Bit by bit, putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution
Every little detail plays a part
Having just a vision's no solution
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together
That's what counts!

His Modesty…
When you're way up high
And you look below
At the world you left
And the things you know,
Little more than a glance
Is enough to show
You just how small you are.

His insight into kids and parenting, even as a non-parent…

I had a dream
I dreamed it for you, June

Children can only grow from something you love, to something you lose...

Dear kindly Judge, your Honor,
My parents treat me rough.
With all their marijuana,
They won't give me a puff.
They didn't wanna have me,
But somehow I was had.
Leapin' lizards, that's why I'm so bad!

Careful the wish you make, Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take, Wishes come true, Not free.

His love of the theater world…

Nothing with kings, nothing with crowns;
Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns!

Say, Mister Producer,
I'm talkin' to you, sir.
I don't need a lot,
Only what I got,
Plus a tube of greasepaint and a follow spot!

You can sacrifice your sacharo,
Working in the back row,
Bump in a dump till you're dead.
Kid, you gotta get a gimmick,
If you wanna get ahead.

His joy of comedy and language…

Poppin' pussies into pies!
Wouldn't do in my shop!
Just the thought of it's enough to make you sick!
And I'm telling you them pussycats is quick.

I've gotten through, "Hey, lady, aren't you whoozis?
Wow, what a looker you were"
Or better yet, "Sorry, I thought you were whoozis
Whatever happened to her?

Husband: A weekend in the country, We should try it.
Wife: How I wish we'd been asked.
Husband: A weekend in the country, Peace and quiet--
Wife: We'll go masked.

His view of the darkness…

There's a whole in the world like a great black pit
and the vermin of the world inhabit it
and its morals aren't worth what a pin can spit
and it goes by the name of London.

A gun kills many men before it's done,
Hundreds,
Long before you shoot the gun:
Men in the mines
And in the steel mills,
Men at machines,
Who died for what?

The history of the world, my love
Is those below serving those up above!
How gratifying for once to know
That those above will serve those down below.

His view of love, missapplied…

Men are stupid, men are vain,
Love's disgusting, love's insane,
A humiliating business.

Oh, the torture they teach.
What's as intriguing-
Or half so fatiguing
As what’s out of reach.

Have you decided it's
Safer in cages,
Singing when you're told?

Beauty
Can't be hindered
From taking its toll.
You may lose control.
Faced with these Loreleis,
What man can moralize?

His view of love, objectifying…

Pretty women
Blowing out their candles
Or combing out their hair
Even when they leave
They still are there.

Look, you're a very special girl
Not just overnight
No, you're a very special girl
And not because you're bright...
Not just because you're bright

In Buddy's eyes
I'm young, I'm beautiful.
In Buddy's eyes
I can't get older.
I'm still the princess,
Still the prize.

His view of love, most deeply felt…

Demons will charm you with a smile
For a while
But in time
Nothing can harm you
Not while I'm around

Around the corner,
Or whistling down the river,
Come on, deliver
To me.

Somebody crowd me with love.
Somebody force me to care.
Somebody let me come through,
I'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive,

His view of love, confused…

A boy who kills cannot love
A boy who kills has no heart
And he's the boy who gets your love
And gets your heart very smart, Maria, very smart

Bless this bride,
Totally insane
Slipping down the drain
And bless this day in our hearts
As it starts
To rain.

His view of love, failed…

You said you loved…. me
Or were you just being kind

Anyway, on your own with only you to concern yourself
Doesn't mean you're lonely, just that you're free

All afternoon doing every little chore
The thought of you stays bright
Sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor
Not going left
Not going right

Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want -
Sorry, my dear.

So there's hell to pay and until I die
I'll die day after day after day after day
After day after day after day
Till the days go by, till the days go by
Till the days go by, till the days go by

His view of survival…

Everybody Says Don't
Everybody Says Don't
Everybody Says Don't Walk On The Grass
Don't Disturb The Peace
Don't Skate On The Ice
Well I Say Do I Say
Walk On The Grass It Was Meant To Feel I Say Sail Till To The Windmill
And If You Fail You Fail

I've stood on bread lines with the best,
watched while the headlines did the rest.
In the depression was I depressed? Nowhere near.
I met a big financier, and I'm here.

Rich man, poor man
Black or white,
pick your apple,
Take a bite,
Everybody
Just hold tight
To your dreams.
Everybody's
Got the right
To their dreams...

People make mistakes,
Holding their own,
Thinking they're alone.

So here's to the girls on the go--
Everybody tries.
Look into their eyes,
And you'll see what they know:
Everybody dies.

And…

There's a part of you always standing by,
Mapping out the sky,
Finishing a hat...
Starting on a hat...
Finishing a hat...
Look I made a hat...
Where there never was a hat.