A New One---Cleverest Lyric

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:11am

What in your opinion is the cleverst lyric out there? I've always though that this one, "Playing with matches a girl can get burned..." from MatchMaker, Matchmaker (Fiddler on the Roof) is one of the smartest lyrics I've heard.

What are some others ones?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:35am

the urge to merge can rob us of our senses, the need to breed can make a man a drone. we must be on alert with or defenses.....for every skirt will test - testosterone. (The Producers)
The fuhrer is causing a furor (the producers)

The more you ruv someone, the more you wanna kir dem (ave q)

theres been some confusion for you see my roommate is - occasionally and excetingly peculiar and all around (something) to decribe.......blonde (wicked)

[Jo Jo Mandingo]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:19am

Hand's down, "Into the Woods" has some of the best ...

Everyone tells tiny lies
What's important, really, is the size.
Only three more tries
and we'll have our prize
when the end's in sight you'll realize,
if the end is right
it justifies the beans.

- Maybe They're Magic

He's a very smart Prince,
He's a Prince who prepares.
Knowing this time I'd run from him,
He spread pitch on the stairs.
I was caught unawares.
And I thought: well, he cares-
This is more than just malice.
Better stop and take stock
While you're standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace

- On the Steps of the Palace

[chauvelin128]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:30am

To begin, if I may, my Lord,
I've no wish to remind you
But you'll notice just behind you
There are ships in the bay,
They've been sitting there all day
With a letter to convey
And they haven't gone away
And there's every indication
That they're planning to stay, my Lord …

Have some tea, my Lord,
Some chrysthanthemum tea.
It's an herb that's superb
For disturbances at sea.

Is the Shogun feeling better?
Good! Now what about this letter?
Is it wise to delay, my Lord?
With the days disappearing,
Might we benefit from hearing,
What the soothsayers say, my Lord?

_Pacific Overtures_

One of the most perfect lyrics I have ever heard...

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:45am

"But who needs ALbert Schweitzer when the lights are low"...-Can That Boy Foxtrot!

"Why did you do it boy
Not just destroy the pride and joy
of Illinois
But all the USA"- Ballad of Booth

Any lyric from "Ladies Who Lunch"

[BT]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:00am

You can't go wrong with Sondheim, can you?

from "Agony": Into the Woods

I've found a casket entirely of glass
No, it's unbreakable
Inside, don't ask it, a maiden alas
Just as unwakeable
What unmistakable
Agony, is the way always hard
She has skin white as snow
Did you learn her name, no
There's a dwarf standing guard
Agony such that princes must weep
Always in thrall 'most to anything almost
Or something asleep

[amasis]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:15am

Well, Into the Woods has been mentioned, and I'm sure something from Sweeney Todd is going to make an appearance here eventually, so I'll pick some other stuff:

My body's all right--
But not in perspective and not in the light.
I'm bound to be chilly and feel a buffoon,
But nightshirts are silly in mid-afternoon.
Which leaves the suggestive, but how to proceed?
Although she gets restive, perhaps I could read.
In view of her penchant for something romantic,
De Sade is to trenchant and Dickens too frantic,
And Stendhal would ruin the plan of attack,
As there isn't much blue in "The Red and the Black."'
De Maupassant's candor would cause her dismay,
The Brontes are grander but not very gay,
Her taste is much blander, I'm sorry to say,
But is Hans Christian Andersen ever risque?

- Stephen Sondheim, "Now"

******

She can be white
She can be brown
She's always easy
Goin' down, goin' down

She don't care - What I look like
Or how I dress
She never says, "no"
Always says, "yes"

Sugar, she's refined
For a small price
She blows my mind

- Jonathan Larson, "Sugar" Updated On: 8/31/04 at 10:15 AM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:19am

There's nothing that I
Wouldn't
And I couldn't
And I haven't gone through...
ahh, aah, aah, aah!

(With tremendous conviction and grit!)

I sprained my little toe, but la-la-la-la-la!
I hobbled like so la-la-la-la!
For you. La-la-la-la-la-la-la!
ooh ... Ooh ... Ooh
Then came the hit and run la-la-la-la-la!

But I staggered on one la-la-la-la!
For you. La-la-la-la-la-la-la!
Now, here I am, ahh-ah!
The worse for wear
And here you are ahh-ah!
I'm here!
You're there!
And maybe now ah!
You'll know I care ahh-ah!
For you! Ooh!
ooh ...

GERTRUDE
Oh, yes. And Horton, one more thing...

It took me seven weeks...
But I found your clover,
Too!

(SEUSSICAL)

[Elphie Pingleton]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:22am

I always thought in wicked-- the foreshadowing in The Wizard and I ( I'd be so happy i could melt) and ( a celebration throughout Oz that's all to do with me) Followed in Wonderful when the wizard sings (there'll be such a hoop de doo a celebration throughout Oz thats all to do with you) BTW the Glinda part goes: unusually and excedingly peculiar and all together quite impossible to describe...

[lyfeisacabaret]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:16am

"Now when they see him they'll make a fuss.
We gotta smile like we just don't care.
They put their pants on the same as us.
So just imagine them in their underwear."

Comfort & Joy from BatBoy

"Stars and Moon" from Songs for a New World

[NBRISBY]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:20am

no lyric can touch the brilliance of the fun lyrics in Priest from Sweeney.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:21am

An imitation Hitler, and with Lit'ler Charm
-Can that boy Foxtrot (Sondheim)

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:23am

just about anything by Sondheim....

[morosco]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:24am

And if you wish official pardoning
you'd better do a little gardening
I mean you shouldn't be so generous with your seed
Your fertile lies
Don't Fertilize
It needs work!
(City of Angels) Updated On: 8/31/04 at 11:24 AM

[morosco]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:29am

Should there be a marital squabble
available Bob'll be there with the glue!
-What would we do without you? (Sondheim)

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 12:53pm

just pick a line from "adelaide's lament", one of the most sophisticated songs in the musical theatre canon

"nowadays" from CHICAGO

"It's good, isn't it?"

this song is open to almost limitless interpretations, and endless roxie harts.....

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:31pm

IMO, easily the cleverest lyric:

Grab your d*ck and double click for porn, porn PORN!

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:41pm

Beauty celestial--the best, you'll agree.
-Beautiful Girls, FOLLIES, Stephen Sondheim

Nature never fashioned a flower so fair,
No rose can compare.
-Beautiful Girls, FOLLIES, Stephen Sondheim

BUT MY FAVORITE IS:

We always can use what the throw:
The fruit may fly, but why complain?
Tomato sauce goes great with chow mein!
-Together, GYPSY, Stephen Sondheim

--dd..bb..jj--

[Blonde]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:45pm

careful the things you say, children will listen.
and everyone's a little bit racist...sometimes

[shira467]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:14pm

Stars and the Moon is brilliant.

Also, I think "Where In The World Is My Prince" is hysterical and well written.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:19pm

Shepherd pie peppered with actual shepherd on top - Sweeney Todd

[NYLG]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:24pm

"We import the drinks that you buy,
So the Perrier is Canada Dry."

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

Steve Lawrence singing, "You'll find romance and laughter and Steve and Eydie"

LAS VEGAS from MISS SPECTACULAR

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 02:24 PM

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:28pm

Wow guys...those are some pretty clever lyrics!

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:34pm

see my signature

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:39pm

Love "Where in the World Is My Prince" (Herman?) "Little Priest/ Worst Pies" and everything from "Into the Woods". Sondheim is amazing.