Posted: 11/6/20 at 3:40pm
What's the muddle.
In the middle?
That's the puddle.
Where the poodle did the piddle
Posted: 11/6/20 at 3:54pm
One that springs to mind that was also a surprise to Cole Porter:
“Wherever I go, I know he goes,/ Wherever I go, I know she goes./ No fits, no fights, no feuds and no egos – amigos,/ together!”
Updated On: 11/6/20 at 03:54 PM
Posted: 11/6/20 at 4:56pm
From the same song, I just love this play on words:
"And any IOU I owe, you owe. Who me, owe? No you, owe. No, WE owe, together."
Sondheim is a genius in every way, musically and lyrically.
Posted: 11/7/20 at 6:41pm
You beat me to it. I was going to say the same lyric...so short nd so clever.
I would also add the entire lyric to The Story of Lucy and Jessie. IMO probably the most brilliant lyrics I have heard from any song ever. Incredibly clever, but also incredibly perfect in describing the two personalities. I still can't believe that they cut the song from the first London project. If I remember correctly, it was replaced by a Tier 2 song (for Sondheim) A Country House, although it may have been 'Ah, But Underneath'.
Posted: 11/8/20 at 7:06am
I'm re-listening to it, so I wanted to add there are so many great rhymes in the title song from The Hello Girls.
"Hello Girls,
We're all aglow girls
And every doughboy's
saying "oh boy,
We got doughgirls!""
"When you ring, we'll
Be bilingual
We'll run rings around the phone"
Updated On: 11/8/20 at 07:06 AM
Posted: 11/8/20 at 12:37pm
Many a light lad may kiss and fly
A kiss goodbye is byegone
Never have I asked an August sky
Where has last July gone?
Posted: 11/14/20 at 11:11am
This thread is full of amazing Sondheim rhymes, for good reason. But to mix things up, I'll say that I am stunned every time by the lyric to "I Am What I Am" from La Cage Aux Folles. The rhymes are fairly simple, but somehow still totally surprising to me. Plus, they drive the song along in a way that is so, so emotionally affecting. The middle verse is a particular favorite of mine:
I am what I am
I don't want praise, I dont want pity
I bang my own drum
Some think it's noise I think its pretty
And so what, if I love each sparkle and each bangle
Why not try to see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham
'Till you can shout out loud
I am what I am
Posted: 11/14/20 at 7:11pm
I think this are very good lyrics, but I don't think they are clever. I think clever requires a certain impishness and daring. Those are straightforward -- again excellent -- lyrics.
