The Best Lyrics Ever Written for A Show

[esparza 333]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:16pm

Many people i Know say Spring Awakening and Wicked and all the Sondheim musicals.

[Chance]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:20pm

so you're like the cruel sandwhich of the main board then?

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:20pm

Sweeney Todd and Passing Strange.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:22pm

Many people you know say Wicked?

I love the show, but no way is it even close to the "best lyrics ever written", and I'm sure you'll get crucified so to speak from other people on here.

[fflagg]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:31pm

Good Lord how young are you?

Spring Awakening is not the best of anything.

My Fair Lady is the best Broadway musical ever: lyrics, music, book, etc. That is the standard to reach: others of that level include Gypsy, A Little Night Music, The King and I, WEst Side Story, and Candide.

The best show of the last decade is Grey Gardens.

Spring Awakening??? Get a grip.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:49pm

I think all Sondheim lyrics are amazing, and I'd say that "Into the Woods" has some of his best lyrics. the wordplay in that show is amazing.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:54pm

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 06:54 PM

[the.hard.part]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:56pm

I would have to agree that Passing Strange has some of the best lyrics I've heard recently

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 7:01pm

what the ****, esparza.

SPRING AWAKENING??? some of the most flowery, pathetically poetic, inane lyrics ever! who the hell are your friends?

WICKED?? really? oh boy...

Sondheim is the best, when it comes to lyrics. Guettel comes in second -- sometimes tries to reach too far (intellectually) but really enjoy his work.

Andrew Lippa's simplicity also makes his lyrics really sparkle, for me. I enjoy them.

Schwartz? Sheik? NOPE.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 7:04pm

This is difficult, but some of the best lyrics of the last ten years are in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 7:07pm

I'm with Scarywarhol: Sweeney Todd and Passing Strange.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 7:07pm

I think Parade has some great lyrics, too. I don't listen to JRB very often, but I do think he writes wonderful lyrics.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 7:08pm

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 07:08 PM

[brochatkid]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 7:08pm

I would have to say Falsettos and Chess. I'm weird, though.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 7:12pm

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 07:12 PM

[njohn]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 9:28pm

I know people have their opinions, but sometimes I just wonder.

Spring Awakening: Um, okay. . .
Wicked: Um, okay. . .

E/I vs. I/E.

Updated On: 7/26/08 at 09:28 PM

[scott68]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 9:33pm

"A Little Priest" from Sweeney has some of my favorite wordplay. "A Weekend in the Country" from A Little Night Music is up there as well.

[BestOfBothWorlds]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 9:40pm

"Tall enough to be your mother."

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 9:42pm

Sweeney Todd
Gypsy
and
Follies

basically anything Sondheim... but those are the best (lyrically), in my opinion.

In what universe does wicked and spring awakening have good lyrics?! Wicked has some of the worst lyrics I've ever heard... along with almost all of Schwartz's other shows.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:11am

Into The Woods
Passing Strange (I know, but I loved his lyrics)
Carousel
My Fair Lady
A Little Night Music

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:14am

Merrily, Follies... Bill Finn... David Zippel... Caroline or Change...

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:28am

Porter, Gershwin, Kern, Loesser, Sondheim.
Updated On: 7/27/08 at 12:28 AM

[dalefully]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 1:52am

Definitely BKLYN.




(that was sarcasm for those who can't detect it). Other than what's been said, I would also have to add Ragtime to the list. And even though I wouldn't say they're the best, the sheer charm of William Finn's lyrics (especially in Falsettos, A New Brain, and Elegies) definitely make my favorites.

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:15am

I don't think it's possible for there to be a "competition" with Sondheim involved.

That being said, Finn and Loesser do some lyrical wonders as well.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:19am

I think the lyrics to A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC are simply terrific.