Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
BroadwayNorth2
Understudy Joined: 10/7/07
#1Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Posted: 3/13/11 at 10:03pm
A couple queries here:
"You never wanted enough - Alright, tough, I don't make that a crime" (from Good Thing Going/Merrily)
I'm having a hard time syntactically with the word "tough" here. Does it mean: "Alright, it was tough, but I don't make it a crime" ?
And the other one:
"A shadow passed. A shadow passed. Yearning for the fool it called a home" (from Left Behind/Spring Awakening)
Any takers?
Updated On: 3/13/11 at 10:03 PM
#2Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Posted: 3/13/11 at 10:05pmThinking too hard about Spring Awakening lyrics will only lead to crossed eyes and a burnt-out brain.
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Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#2Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Posted: 3/13/11 at 10:08pmIt means, "tough" as in "tough noogies," or "tough sh*t."
#3Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Posted: 3/13/11 at 10:09pm^^^Agreed. Though genius, the lyrics are so hard to interpret and decipher. Try analyzing "Mirror-Blue Night." I love that show, but hate that song.
"These rabid fans...possess the acting talent to portray the hooker...Linda Eder..." -The New York Times
#4Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Posted: 3/13/11 at 10:10pm
When I hear "tough" used that way, in its own clause like that, I hear it as "all right, tough luck, [but] I don't make it a crime" -- but I don't know the context.
[Edited for stupidity...]
Updated On: 3/13/11 at 10:10 PM
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#5Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Posted: 3/13/11 at 10:17pm
When you put it with the line thst comes before it:
And if I wanted to much
Was that such
A mistake at the time?
It makes perfect sense, and is a brilliant set of lyrics. Much/Such, Enough/Tough - is genius rhyming.
BroadwayNorth2
Understudy Joined: 10/7/07
#6Not understanding seemingly simple Broadway lyrics
Posted: 3/13/11 at 10:21pm
I interpret the SA lyric as this:
"Moritz (his shadow/ghost (?) has just left this world- still yearning for acceptance, openness, a true "home" when all he got were fools (parents)!
...and the challenge I find with the "Good Thing Going" line is how quickly the words "You never wanted enough, all right, tough, I don't make that a crime" happen in the vocal line- with commas, but no breath marks. As well as the adjacent T's in "righT, Tough, I..." I'm tying to convey the implied meaning, with the necessary pauses, but the score doesn't allow me! Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Updated On: 3/13/11 at 10:21 PM
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