LOL to TheEnchantedHunter. I agree that the line about cheese is quite good, considering the time period the play is supposed to be set in. It's never been a lyric I questioned at all. Fields to flower, cheese to sour, it sounds like Mr. Schwartz is cleverly setting a scene for us folks!
Ladyofthelake, your Jacques Brel lyric, is it from that English jukebox of Brel songs or is it a translation from French? Because I believe that show has re-written lyrics.
Cenoern, why are those lyrics awful?
Popular_Elphie, I believe Schwartz was following the old school musical theater tradition of the cool guy who swings into town, sums up the folks, and leads them all in rousing song. No, it's not a good song, but the lyric makes sense.
RoseSayer, you know, I definitely can't say this for sure since my experience only goes back 20 years, but Hammerstein trafficked in feel good messages, and The Sound of Music is a feel good show. Lorenz Hart had more ambivalent feelings about life and much less character specific lyrics (And his lyrics aren't all THAT amazing). For his time Hart was great though. I think Rodger's music is kind of the same with either :P
Hmm... really bad lyric, really bad lyric, really bad lyric *tries to think of one*
"The shock of winter
The coming on of spring
That melting air
The sun gone red
An empty bed
A scent, a sound, a gesture triggering
I am suddenly alive
I am suddenly alone
Knowing I will be alone till I can be alone with you
That is what you do
You appear, you appear"
Bad? Or CHEESY!?
"The sun gone red! ....AN EMPTY BED!!!!
italian latin italian latin"
yr ronin,
joey