Bright Star Cast Recording — Page 4

Scarywarhol said: "God, those lyrics are hard to get through. Music still sounds great, as does the talent. "



Agreed. While I love the music itself, the lyrics are not so great. "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, when a man's gotta do what he's got to." I know bluegrass lyrics are often simple, but these lyrics are redundant and lacking in complexity altogether.

"Agreed. While I love the music itself, the lyrics are not so great. "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, when a man's gotta do what he's got to." I know bluegrass lyrics are often simple, but these lyrics are redundant and lacking in complexity altogether."

I actually think that's exactly the point. You have to look at who is saying these lyrics: it's Jimmy Ray's father, whose entire belief system is antiquated. He's telling his son that he can't pursue love and has to pursue resources simply because, well, uh because he says so. There isn't actually a legitimate reason behind it, and the lyrics are meant to reflect that.

Updated On: 5/5/16 at 11:56 AM

Yeah...I'm not really buying that these characters, including writers, know about twenty-five words when they start singing, and none of them really rhyme. I also think a lot of bluegrass artists would not be keen on the idea that their words are all simplistic yokel speak.



I like the music a lot, and I though the show was fun in a sweet and completely inoffensive way. I do expect a much higher level of craftsmanship in Broadway lyrics. They can be character-specific, but I don't think that's my complaint here. I agree with John Adams about the lack of "poetry."

Updated On: 5/5/16 at 12:04 PM

John Adams said: "I apologize if this becomes a double post, but something goofy is going on with the order of the posts. I'll delete if it self-corrects:

Scarywarhol said: "God, those lyrics are hard to get through. Music still sounds great, as does the talent."

For me, I think the missing aspect of the lyrics is 'poetry'. As an example, I compare the simple lyrics of Man of Constant Sorrow (from Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?). Just that one, simple phrase, "I am a man of constant sorrow" conjures a deeper emotional message than simply repeating, "please, don't take him", or "a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do when a man's gotta do what he's got to" over and over. For my tastes, I think the lyrics of this score don't meet the standard of beautifully simple poetry that can be found in many traditional American folk songs and Bluegrass.

Regarding the use of repetition, I was most disappointed in the song, "Please, Don't Take Him". Given the drama of the moment, I found myself thinking, "Honey! Try some new words, 'cause the ones you keep repeating aren't working!" I feel like a mother in this situation might reasonably dig a little deeper in the well...?

I also feel that the use of repetition is too limiting to the story-telling. Do you really want to just stop there? You've said it all? Don't you want to expound, or tell me anything more?

I DO like the use of repetition in, "Another Round". (I mean, I really don't hate the score!)

There's a line where Emily Padgett repeats, "Pour me..., Pour me..." which cleverly sounds like, "Poor me! Poor me!" I wish there was more of that kind of thing. (I don't have a printed copy of the lyrics. Does anyone know if those particular lines are written as, "Poor me"?)



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The lyric is "Pour me."

I think to discredit the entire score based on the two weaker points of it is a little much. I will agree that "A Man's Gotta Do," despite the redundancy of the whole thing, fits perfectly with the character.

"At least for these characters, poor lyric writing is less justified."

AJ's character literally has a line that goes, "Down, dejected and dubious." That's a pretty "literary" lyric-- consonance and all. As for the repetitive lyrics, when Carmen's young self is pleading for them not to take her baby, it's primal. She isn't coming from a place of intellect.

I don't really know why I'm defending it. The lyrics are simplistic. I guess for me, it really does not take away from the beauty of the score.

Finished listening to the album. What a beautiful score. The lyrics are kind of eh but I'm over looking it because of the score and the sheer talent of Carmen Cusack and Paul. Wow. I've decided to see this show in June when I come for orientation.