The best rhymes in musical theater history- Page 2

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 6:33am

From Not Getting Married: 

Go!  Can't you go, why is nobody listening?

Goodbye, go and cry at another person's wake.

If you're quick, for a kick, you could pick up a christening, 

But please, on my knees, there's a human life at stake!

 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 8:24am

Since this has fast turned into the thread of "Why Steve is a Better Lyricist than I Am," I'm gonna contribute one that's not from him.

The whole of "You've Got Possibilities" from It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman is one of my favorite lyrics of all time. I would do that show JUST so I could sing the song.

[chanel]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 9:23am

Back to Steve:

From A Little Night Music:

"To see them--indiscriminate women--it pains me more than I can say."

The rhyme of "indiscriminate" and "women--it" is genius.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 9:42am

I came in to mention:

We don't foresee that you will be the least bit argumentative

So please ignore the man of war we brought as a preventative

But was beat to it!

 

Howard Ashman belongs in this conversation, but I have to think of a favorite. 

[godlessondheimite]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 9:42am

Who is this Sondheim guy and why are all these answers from him? That seems unfair.

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 10:06am

"we become indiscreet,

eating sweet after sweet,

though we know all too well where that might lead,

so this box was designed

with the two of us in mind,

as the kind of reminder we need,

when you raise the lid the music plays 

like a disapproving nod.

and it sings in your ear

no more candy, my dear

in a way, it's a little like the voice of God"

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 10:35am

I have to agree that some of the best Hamilton lyrics come from "Washington On Your Side"

And shout out to Howard Ashman: "I know Seymour's the greatest
But I'm dating a semi-sadist"

[bloomerific]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 10:57am

godlessondheimite said: "Who is this Sondheim guy and why are all these answers from him? That seems unfair.:

 

Hahaha well done. :) 

 

[amaklo]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 12:06pm

I admire Sondheim as much as anyone and love all the ones posted so far.  Here's a non-Sondheim favorite:

I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs?
I've got twenty!

But who cares?
No big deal
I want more

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 12:32pm

I miss the love and laughter rippling
And the tippling
And Emily Bronte doing the twist
With Kipling.

Home, Sweet Heaven HIGH SPIRITS, Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, though possibly lyric is one of Noel Coward's reported rewrites

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 12:44pm

Also on the Sondheim tip, I've always been partial to this from "I'm Still Here" (which is chock-full of great rhymes):

Been called a pinko commie tool/Got through it, stinko, by my pool

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 1:25pm

June is busting out all over

The sheep aren't sleeping anymore

All the rams that chase the ewe sheep

Are determined there'll be new sheep

And the ewe sheep aren't even keeping score

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 1:39pm

^^^ I too love that stanza, Adam, and often quote it to show that Hammerstein could rhyme cleverly with the best of them. He CHOSE not to do so in songs like "This Nearly Was Mine".

There's also this one from Hammerstein:

"A hundred-and-one
Pounds of fun.
That's my little honey bun.
Get a load of honey bun tonight!

I'm speaking of my
Sweetie pie,
Only sixty inches high:
Ev'ry inch is packed with dynamite!

***

She's my baby, I'm her pap!
I'm her booby, she's my trap!
I am caught and I don't wanna run,
'Cause I'm havin' so much fun with honey bun!"

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 2:09pm

"I too love that stanza, Adam, and often quote it to show that Hammerstein could rhyme cleverly with the best of them. He CHOSE not to do so in songs like "This Nearly Was Mine". "

Yes, Hammerstein had lots of wit, shown both in his lyrics and in his book scenes.  And i think it is to his great credit that he didn't always go for the clever rhymes but often went for the well-written and emotionally powerful lyrics in many songs that fill you with emotion, especially when paired with the soaring melodies.  For me, Sondheim has the largest number of lyrics that make me notice the fun rhymes and greatly appreciate the wit, but Hammerstein writes the shows that affect me the most emotionally, and Oscar's lyrics are still my favourites, so many years later.

 

Another Sondheim rhyme:

Agony, far more painful than yours

When you know she would go with you, if there only were doors

 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 2:22pm

My all-time favorite is this little exerpt from Everybody's Gotta Be Somewhere (City of Angels):

Though I've never seen her 
I've seen girls like this
So young and ripe
Your missing miss
Is not the type
To miss a misdemeanor

And though not a Broadway show, Zippel's lyrics for Zero to Hero from Hercules never fail to make me smile.

But if I were to make a selection based on the entirety of a song, rather than a selected exerpt of lyrics, I'd have to give it to On the Steps of the Palace from Into the Woods.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 2:34pm

"Agony, far more painful than yours

When you know she would go with you, if there only were doors"

 

That is particularly good. Agreed.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 2:43pm

I mean come on. 

[amaklo]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 3:05pm

adam.peterson44 said: 
Yes, Hammerstein had lots of wit, shown both in his lyrics and in his book scenes.  And i think it is to his great credit that he didn't always go for the clever rhymes but often went for the well-written and emotionally powerful lyrics in many songs that fill you with emotion, especially when paired with the soaring melodies.  For me, Sondheim has the largest number of lyrics that make me notice the fun rhymes and greatly appreciate the wit, but Hammerstein writes the shows that affect me the most emotionally, and Oscar's lyrics are still my favourites, so many years later.

"

Well said.  I didn't mention this in my earlier post because it's not full of great rhymes per se, but my all time favorite musical theater song is "O What a Beautiful Morning" for those exact reasons.  The lyrics aren't clever, but they're evocative and lovely, and go perfectly with the melody.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 3:10pm

From City of Angels, You're Nothing Without Me: 

 

I'm everything you always wanted to be

Let's deal with the issue:  you wish you were me

[kdogg36]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 9:09pm

Speaking of Hammerstein:

I know how it feels to have wings on your heels,
And to fly down the street in a trance.
You fly down a street on the chance that you meet,
And you meet -- not really by chance.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/17/17 at 10:00pm

Here's a choice couplet from Ira Gershwin's "By Strauss":

"Oh give me the free `n` easy

Waltz that is Vienneasy"--