Clever Lyricists and Examples of Clever Lyric Writing (in terms of rhymes) — Page 2

"She'll be hopelessly shattered/
by Saturday night."

It's all downhill from there.


Desiree Armfeldt
Malmo, Sweden (on tour)

Lucy is juicy
But terribly drab.
Jessie is dressy
But cold as a slab.
Lucy wants to be dressy.
Jessie wants to be juicy.
Lucy wants to be Jessie
And Jessie Lucy.
You see, Jessie is racy
But hard as a rock.
Lucy is lacy
But dull as a smock.
Jessie wants to be lacy,
Lucy wants to be Jessie.
That's the sorrowful précis.
It's very messy.
Poor sad souls,
Itching to be switching roles.
Lucy wants to do what Jessie does,
Jessie want: to be what Lucy was.

Oh man, the whole song is nuts. I love it.

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Roninjoey -- that song proves that Sondheim has a sadistic streak - to make ANYONE try to get through that! I love it too. :)

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The specials today
(though not many are especially good)
First, the fish of the day:
CALAMARI!
Which isn't a fish
but lives in the sea
as set in the dish
it happens to be
the fish...of the day.
...OK...
Next there's Ziti
with a sauce that's meaty
It's fun! (Fun?)
-and there's a lot-
and that's the Specials!
-----------------------
I love Mr. Bungee!
Yes, indeedee! - Here's your Ziti!
I love Mr. Bungee
when he makes a scene (Whee!)
I love Mr. Bung-
did someone order Scalapini?
I love Mr. Bungee!
Here's your diet coke
and here's your greens!
I love Mr. Bungee!
I love Mr. Bungee!

Oh Mr. Finn, you are a clever one (indeedee->Ziti=BRILLIANT). I also enjoy how the rhymes are there, but the way it's written doesn't allow the material to get repetitive (It took me forever to realize that "scene" and "greens" were coupled, but I may just be an idiot)

I also enjoy "Bi*ch, Bi*ch, Bi*ch" from the concept disc of Jekyll and Hyde, and I second "The Cop Song" from Urinetown.

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TheEnchantedHunter, that's actually Charlotte's lyric.

JasonF, try singing Now. It's freakin' impossible! I mean... at least the fast parts of Getting Married Today don't rhyme.

Howard Ashman was clever, but mostly when it came to food songs :)

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You continue to crack me up, Hunter.

"Michigan water taste like cherry wine
But Mississippi water taste like turpentine..."

-Jelly's Last Jam

dang you jasonf! I was all set to type out "It Needs Work!" from City of Angels...

There's no sun up in the sky...
and the birds forgot to sing
but you're headed for a cell,
then to die and rot in hell...
So it might as well be spring!

I'll be singing like a bird
when the jury sets the date.
at this capital event,
whose revenge is heaven sent...
all you have to do is wait!

and so on!

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just a play on the phrase. It's really about a Hispanic cop happy as hell to finally collar the former partner "gone bad" and looking forward to his execution.

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From Noel Coward:

I went to a marvelous party

With Nounou and Nada and Nell,

It was in the fresh air

And we went as we were

And we stayed as we were

Which was Hell.

Poor Grace started singing at midnight

And didn't stop singing till four;

We knew the excitement was bound to begin

When Laura got blind on Dubonnet and gin

And scratched her veneer with a Cartier pin,

I couldn't have liked it more.

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Heh, Jimmi, I was gonna quote that before but I decided not to.

Somebody mentioned Hart I think. If you like them so much quote us some of their cleverness!

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Kander and Ebb's Kiss of the spider Woman

Dressing Them Up
Dressing them up
I love the dressing them up
The subtle tilt of a hat
Touches like that
Makes me the best of the lot
At dressing them up
I was the cream of the crop
The way I buckled the belt
Folded the felt
Helped me to get where I got
Before I got where I got!
I was the absolute top
For example:
Once I asked for a Balenciaga scarf
To stuff in a mannequin's purse
They told me, no one on earth will see!
I answered, no one on earth but me!
I stood my ground as no other dresser does
And darling guess what? Balenciaga, it was!
Dressing them up,
I was the creme de la creme
As I adjusted each hem
I keep on dazzling them
At my particular store
Which was the best in the town
You'd never catch them wearing a frown
Or catch them dressing me down
For my finesse at dressing them up
Raise that skirt, just an inch or two
Add some rouge, just a pinch or two
Start the fan
No, much gustier
Stuff that gauze
Make her bustier
Ooh! That frock, too much red in it!
I would not be caught dead in it
Well, they start out like hell
But I make them sell by
Dressing them up
From earrings down to their boots
In evening dresses or suits
Unlike some second rate fruits
At other second rate stores
Which can't compare to my own
You'll never catch them wearin a frown
Or catch them dressing me down
For my finesse at dressing them up!
I had the touch...
Thank you very much!

I adore the lyrics to that song, its genius and I also adore Where you Are as well:

When you feel you've gone to hell in a hand basket
And the world in which you dwell's no paradise
I've some counsel I can give
You need but ask it
I'm so very glad to share this good advice
You've got to learn how not to be
Where you are
The more you face reality, the more you scar
So close your eyes and you'll become a movie star
Why must you stay where you are?
You've got to learn how not to see
What you've seen
The slice of hell you call your life
Is harsh and mean
So why not lie beside me on a movie screen
Why must you see what you've seen?
And if you find that you land in jail
A little fantasy will not fail
It's just as simple as ABC
Come up here, play with me, play with me!
You've got to learn how not to do
What you've done
The pistol shot can't kill if you unload the gun
So build a place where you're the shah
And we'll embrace in that Shangri-La
If you run away, some matinee
From where you are

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"We have so much in common. It's a phenomenon."


- "Small World" from Gypsy