Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

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Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 5:46am

Are there any examples of really bad lyrics in a music theatre song. Either a bad rhyme, or simply stupid lyrics.

My favoutite is in "So Much Better" from LB.

They rhyme "I guess my best was not working for you" with "I so look forward to working with you". Now that's just stupid...

A little known fact is that in the original screenplay, Pan's Labyrinth was Pan's FLAByrinth. Hmmmmmmm...glad they changed it.

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 7:11am

"To kill outside St Paul
Requires a lot of balls"

Even amongst the sea of dross that is Jekyll & Hyde, that one really stood out.

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 7:53am

The entire lyric of Real Nice Clambake from Carousel

First, they're all nostalgic about food they just ate an hour ago (if I get as full as they say they are, I'm usually thinking about anything BUT food an hour later!), and then they compare the food to being "fit for an angel's choir." Not only does the lyric not make a whole lot of sense (angel's CHOIR???) but I've NEVER heard anyone praise a meal like that.

Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:13am

Her hair is blonde and curly.
Her curls are hurly-burly.
Her lips are pips.
I call her hips whirly and twirly.

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.

-Oscar Hammerstein, SOUTH PACIFIC

Perhaps some of the worst lyrics EVER (not to mention pretty offensive these days)...

Itty Bitty Geisha? Toyland? Gypsy Pasadoble? Just a few popular favorites...

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:14am

There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you've crossed

"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!" Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:20am

scooter, I wouldn't call those the worst musical theatre lyrics. I actually think they perfectly suit their purpose in the show. I mean, the song is a farcical little ditty to give the sailors a little break from the thinking about the war. A girl dressed as a guy sings it to a guy dressed as a girl, for goodness' sake!

Edited for a heinous grammar mistake.

artistic dominion

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 08:20 AM

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:21am

It's weird. That lyric in So Much Better has always bothered me, and I wondered why they never re-wrote it. I then heard an early demo with Kerry Butler, and in the same spot they rhyme "love me again" with "love me again" so I think they must have made a conscious decision to repeat a line there. Though I can't figure out WHY!

It's just a message board. Let's not take it too seriously.

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:33am

freeadmission, I do think that the lyrics to "Honey Bun" are certainly SOME of the worst ever, regardless of the context. Looking at his other work, Hammerstein was certainly clever enough to have come up with something better that also fit the bill for context and purpose.

Those lyrics bite.

IMHO, of course.

P.S. I personally like the "Clambake" lyrics...

Itty Bitty Geisha? Toyland? Gypsy Pasadoble? Just a few popular favorites...

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 08:33 AM

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 8:38am

The Pirate Queen.

There are some of the worst rhymes of all time in that score, they rhyme MAN with SEAMAN, and I don't mean sperm, i mean a man of the sea.

#10

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:05am

redhot, at least Schwartz managed to get in three verb tenses of the same word. That has to be some kind of achievement.

"I'll cut you, Tracee Beazer!!!! ...Just kidding. I'd never cut anyone." -Tina Maddigan, 9/30/06, WS stage door
Avatar: JULIE "EFFING" WHITE, 2007 TONY WINNER. Thank God. I'm thinking about legally changing my name to Lizzie Curry...

#11

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:11am

Shipoopi

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#12

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:15am

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 10:15 AM

#13

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:16am

"Love is like a virus
I'm infected with."

From "Jane Eyre"

I loved that show, but I laugh every time I hear those lines. James Barbour delivers them with such conviction that it's almost silly. Of course, a preposition should never end a sentence, either!

#14

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 10:51am

I know they're not terrible in the long run, but I just hate them:
"When a Pseudolus can move,
The universe shakes
But I'll never move
Until I'm free!"

#15

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 11:30am

Other than the afore mentioned J&H lyric, I have to add

Uh - Nessa
I've got something to confess, a
Reason why, well -
Why I asked you here tonight

Nessa and confess-a just make my brain hurt.

"You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" --Family Guy

"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.

Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"

#16

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:01pm

At the risk of offending Rentheads everywhere:

"Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe
Our labors would reap financial gains...

We'll open up a restaurant in Santa Fe
And save from devastation our brains"

That has ALWAYS bothered me. I love the music but the lyrics in that song--especially that part--just make me cringe. I always tell myself that maybe Larson would have fixed it had he lived.

Maggie-the-schnoodle

#17

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:08pm

haha you can tell how old(or young) everyone is by the answers

If you think LB or wicked etc have the worst lyrics you havent heard a lot.

from Carrie the musical-song-Out For Blood

Its a simple little gig you help me kill a pig , and ive got some plans for the blood.
Chop kill the pig pig pig , kill kill kill and make it bleed, get the blood blood blood oh blood , kill the pig make it bleed get the blood its all we needs, out for blood

Of course Carrie had some amazing songs but this one was bloody awful

Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

#18

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:19pm

I've been L-U-M-B-E-R-E-D lumbered,
And I don't L-I-K-E it one small bit.
I'm too young to be a father;
There are lots of things I'd rather be--
Like working down a coal P-I-T pit!
-Stop the World, I Want to Get Off

Wow! A grown man can spell 3 and 4 letter words! I'm so impressed!
After that song, I was forced to shut off the CD for sheer annoyance.

"And I feel it move me Like a fire deep inside Something bursting me wide open Impossible to hide And suddenly I'm flying Flying like a bird Like electricity Electricity" - Electricity from Billy Elliot The Musical

#19

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:25pm

Paris is so sexy
riding in a taxi
gives me appoplexi
or
Paris makes me horny
It's not like Californ-y
- Victor Victoria

From the master of bad lyrics, Leslie Bricusse.

#20

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:26pm

Can't believe it hasn't been included yet, but
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...

#21

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:27pm

Those are bad, but not as bad as the rest of Spring Awakening's lyrics.

#22

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:31pm

I'd also like to add that "Stop the World" is also by Leslie Bricusse...surprise

#23

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:33pm

I've heard worse, but...:
"My teeth ache with the urge to touch her..."
-She Loves Me

#24

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:34pm

Don't diss Sheldon Harnick or else Sondheim'll come at you, yellibean.

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 12:34 PM

#25

re: Worst Lyrics in a musical theatre song

Posted: 6/15/07 at 12:39pm

That has ALWAYS bothered me. I love the music but the lyrics in that song--especially that part--just make me cringe. I always tell myself that maybe Larson would have fixed it had he lived.

Actually, a lot of Larson's stuff pre-collaboration was about brains splattering and things like that.

One time, Patti LuPone punched me in the face...

It was awesome. - theaterkid1015

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