WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
The Puerto Rican Prophecy of Leonard Bernstein
byVanderleunonSeptember 21, 2017
ANITA: Puerto Rico . . .
You ugly island . . .
Island of tropic diseases.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing . . .
And the money owing,
And the babies crying,
And the bullets flying.
I like the island Manhattan.
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!
OTHERS: I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev’rything free in America
For a small fee in America!
Exhibit A as to why Stephen Sondheim — who was just in his 20s when he wrote this and the other lyrics for “West Side Story” — is the most brilliant Broadway lyricist ever. Over 60 years later, the song still holds up well, causing both wincing and laughter.
Rob De WittSeptember 21, 2017, 9:34 AM
Here comes a whole buncha cultural enrichment….
EskymanSeptember 21, 2017, 12:39 PM
Years ago I took a Criminology course in Australia. The lecturer was very much into sociology and social theories relating to crime & criminals (she was also damned cute.)
I was amazed that she’d never heard “Gee, Officer Krupke.” So I copied that song onto a cassette tape (remember them?) and typed out the lyrics. Then it was her turn to be amazed: everything she’d been talking about was in that song. (I didn’t point out that the song was more accurate than she was in one respect: “Deep down inside him, he’s no good.” She thought evil could be cured.)
West Side Story told a multitude of stories within its Romeo & Juliet framework. A true masterpiece.
pbirdSeptember 22, 2017, 9:01 AM
I thought of that song instantly when PR’s troubles began this time.
bob sykesSeptember 23, 2017, 5:46 AM
The significant thing about Stephen Sondheim is that nothing he wrote ever came close to the West Side lyrics. One really has to wonder how much of it was his and how much Bernstein.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Paint me incredulous…that a balanced song such as this made it to Broadway. Great looking, talented youth.
Exhibit A as to why Stephen Sondheim — who was just in his 20s when he wrote this and the other lyrics for “West Side Story” — is the most brilliant Broadway lyricist ever. Over 60 years later, the song still holds up well, causing both wincing and laughter.
Here comes a whole buncha cultural enrichment….
Years ago I took a Criminology course in Australia. The lecturer was very much into sociology and social theories relating to crime & criminals (she was also damned cute.)
I was amazed that she’d never heard “Gee, Officer Krupke.” So I copied that song onto a cassette tape (remember them?) and typed out the lyrics. Then it was her turn to be amazed: everything she’d been talking about was in that song. (I didn’t point out that the song was more accurate than she was in one respect: “Deep down inside him, he’s no good.” She thought evil could be cured.)
West Side Story told a multitude of stories within its Romeo & Juliet framework. A true masterpiece.
I thought of that song instantly when PR’s troubles began this time.
The significant thing about Stephen Sondheim is that nothing he wrote ever came close to the West Side lyrics. One really has to wonder how much of it was his and how much Bernstein.