Clever Lyricists and Examples of Clever Lyric Writing (in terms of rhymes) — Page 3

Many of you wouldn't know these lyrics, but would be familiar with the tune. In the 70s, Jim Steinman (Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Dance of the Vampires) worked with Ray Errol Fox on a musical of The Confidence Man (the Herman Melville book). The tune for this song has since been lifted as Alfred's soaring aria "For Sarah" in Dance of the Vampires. But here it is, replete with some of the most intriguing rhymes I've ever encountered:

MILADY

Words by Ray Errol Fox
Music by Jim Steinman

With that gleam in your eye
I could fashion a diamond to array
Milady

With the silk of your sigh
I could polish a diadem of jewels
For your crown

Let me string and bedeck
Last nights stars for your necklace
Everyday
Milady

Squeeze the stormclouds for wine
And gather silver linings
For your gown

Just a smile from that face
And the world is your bracelet
If you wish
Milady

If the shade is too dull
I can borrow the colour from the
Blush of your cheeks

Take the song that you sing
And I'll serve it with springtime
On a dish
Milady

Nature's music was made
To seranade milady
When she speaks....

Take the song that you sing
And I'll serve it with springtime
on a dish
Milady

Nature's music was made
To seranade milady
When she speaks....


Actually, all of the lyrics in The Confidence Man are the finest I've encountered since, say, Edwin Drood and anything by Sondheim. I really want to see this show on "Broadway" some-day.

We're not only greeted with Fox's ingenious rhymes, but with the haunting music of Steinman. Jim has written some of the most passionate, ethereal songs in rock and roll and theatre. You all should definitely check out the CD of Confidence Man, not to mention the Steinman DREAM ENGINE cabaret at Joe's Pub in February / March

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"I try not to pay too much attention to you since you're usually so unnecessarily nasty when nobody is provoking you."

But ya are, Blanche, ya are!


Jane Hudson
Hollywood, California

I've always found this one cute from You're A Good Man Charlie Brown...
[SALLY]
My new philosophy!
[as teacher]
Miss B?
[as herself]
I'm she

Look see.
A "D?"
A "D."
Not only do you have the rhyme of "bee, she, see, dee" But it also outlines the Alphabet B, C(see), D.

Aside from the obvious (sondheimsondheimsondheimsondheimsondheim), I think Howard Ashman was a wonderful lyricist. I recently got the OBC recording for Beauty and the Beast and was amazed at the complexity of the lyrics in the songs Ashman wrote compared to the songs Rice wrote. It made me wonder what Ashman could have done with a lovely song like "If I Can't Love Her."

I agree with the great contrast between Howard Ashman and Tim Rice in Beauty and the Beast, Tim Rice is not exactly a great lyricist, some of the lyrics from Aida are a little disappointing:
"I would rather wear a barrel,
Than conservative apparel"

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One of my favorite lyrics comes from "Miss Saigon":

My father was a tattoo artist in Haiphong
But his designs on Mother didn't last too long

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Ah, ghostlight, as we discussed in the pm, yes, I mistook what you were showing appreciation for. It seems Hunter's signatures are the bane of my existence.

I can't believe we've thus far forgotten Yip!!!

Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?


The man was a poet.

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Lorenz Hart was indeed an amazing lyricist:
Your looks are laughable,
Unphotographable (WOW, best rhyme ever)
Yet, you're my favorite work of art.
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak,
When you open it to speak?
Are you smart?
Don't change a hair for me,
Not if you care for me,
Stay little Valentine,
Stay.
Each day is Valentine's Day.

I cannot get over how brilliant that song is.

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an excellent point.

I was singing them in my head as I wrote them to. I think some of the older music I appreciate (the Gershwins, etc)is indeed inseperable from the arrangement. I can't think of an example yet...but I will.

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Into the Woods in its entirety, but ESPECIALLY "Your Fault"

"Little Priest"

another example of lyrics looking strange on the page, but perfect in the scene:

they both reached for the gun
the gun,the gun,the gun,the gun
the gun, the gun, the gun, the gun,
the gun, the gun, the gun, the gun,
the gun, the gun, the gun, the gun...
they both reached for....
the... guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun.

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I agree Sondheim is a musical genius, but the two shows whose lyrics simply astounded me with their cleverness were Reefer Madness and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

In Reefer, you've got gems like:
There's hymnals and a rosary
But they won't keep me company
The wafers now don't taste so great
They won't transubstantiate
or
I floated down from Heaven
When i heard a lamb had strayed
Look at you here,
Your brain has turned to marmalade!

And everything in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels continues to amaze me as i listen to it again and again. David Yazbek is my hero in all things now, and an icon of what i want to accomplish. Well, him and Sondheim.

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All this lyric talk reminds me of when I watched the last dress rehearsal for the national company of "Into the Woods" which starred Cleo Laine as the Witch and Charlotte Rae as Jack's Mother. The funny thing was they only stopped 3 times, Two were tech, One was with Milky White not moving, On the other Cleo Laine did not hear her cue (which was funny since they let the Narrator ad-lib it again till she did) and the main one was with Jack & Red Riding Hood during "Your Fault" and that was the only major lyric/music part they went over to my memory. This was like WOW since that whole company had only 2 weeks to get ready. It was a great show.

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