Sondheim's Use of "Zoo"

[EugLoven]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:09pm

Keeping up my pattern of finding idiosyncratic mild-amusements in lyrics, I was walking home from the grocery store today and came to realize...

Sondheim's a fan of rhyming with the word "zoo."
And quite often in or around the beginning sequence

COMPANY
Song: Company
"Jenny, I could take them to the zoo."

Song: What Would We Do Without You?
"Who finished yesterday's stew/
Who took the kids to the zoo"

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
Song: Sunday in the Park with George
"Who was at the zoo, George/
Who was at the zoo?
The monkeys and who, George/
The monkey and who?"

SWEENEY TODD
Song: No Place Like London
"At the top of the hole sit the privileged few/
Making mock of the vermin in the lonely zoo"


What other words is Sondheim a fan of over-rhyming?

[gumbo2]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:11pm

That's interesting. The only thing I can think of at the moment is that the Zoo is usually a fun place to go, and really easy to rhyme with.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:14pm

I actually think he likes the word "hat."

FINISHING THE HAT
A BOWLER HAT
...can't you hide it with a hat.
...does anyone still wear a hat.

I think there are more...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:40pm

Sondheim was clearly born in a zoo.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:53pm

And delivered by hat-wearing Clergy, so I hear.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:55pm

In the libretto of "A Little Night Music," there's this:

CARL-MAGNUS: Watch him like a...

CHARLOTTE: (interrupts) Hawk? Yes, I know dear, you're a tiger, I'm a hawk. (pause) We're our own ZOO.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:57pm

I heard "What's New at the Zoo" from Do Re MI is based on Sondheim's life.

Ouch, you're steppin' on my pouch!

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 7:00pm

When I saw FOLLIES at Encores, I noticed he used the word "rotten" in at least 4 different songs.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 7:02pm

Thats interesting, I never noticed that