WILLIAM ALLEN
We're going to study history lyrical
We're going to study history lyrical
By methods researched and empirical
To learn how words both comic and sage
Were used on the Broadway stage
In what we'll call The Classic Age.
We'll see how lyricists put together
Words for bright and stormy weather,
Employing words as light as feather
But other times as tough as leather.
Some are famous and others not
But all retain marquee lights watt.
Chronologically, we'll begin
With an all-American cultural spin
Of Irish Cohan and Jewish Berlin,
And then we'll grab some black sizzle
From Harlem's own Noble Sissle.
Afterward we'll spend some time
Studying the contrasting rhyme
Of Misters Hart and Hammerstein.
Then we'll study the wordsmith feats
Of Ira Gershwin, Porter, and Dietz.
Then the lyrics cunning we'll comb
Of Misters Razaf, DeSylva, and Rome.
Then to Harburg, Dot Fields and Mercer.
Are we finished? Gotta say "No sir."
Still to see is the brilliant sheen
Of Loesser, Willson, Comden, Green.
And we'll catch the lyric glow
Mr Lerner gave to Mr Loewe.
We'll also have a very good time
With Adams, Harnick, young Sondheim.
Other names will come our way
From this word-rich bygone day
From words sung by Ethel Merman
To those written by Jerry Herman.
Sometimes verbally . . .
. . . acrobatic,
Sometimes comedic or dramatic,
Sometimes funny philosophical,
Sometimes searingly sociological,
Sometimes even comically illogical--
Sometimes caring,
Sometimes despairing,
Sometimes frantic,
Or sweetly romantic.
Sometimes words go on a lark
Making fun of old New York,
Or gallop out to Western land
For a tale both simple and grand,
Or sail off to a foreign shore
To explore a new and different lore.
And sometimes in lands exotic
Things can get a bit quixotic
Or even be a touch erotic
And with a twist of gin and tonic
Get delightfully demonic.
Then sometimes someone sticks
In some radical politics
And with satiric, stinging songs
Hopes to reveal society's wrongs.
Sometimes lost love deflates the worth
Of everything on this dear earth
Until a majestic soaring choir
Allows brave lyrics to inspire.
Anyway, my dear lad and lass,
This is the Broadway Lyricist Class.
So give attention, girls and boys,
To these classic verbal toys,
And during these lyrical word fun flings
Maybe we'll even learn some things!
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