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Roar of the Greasepaint
Book, Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
Musical Numbers Staged by Gillian Lynne
Directed by Anthony Newley
MUSICAL NUMBERS
The Beautiful Land The Urchins
A Wonderful Day Like Today Sir, Cocky, The Urchins
It Isn't Enough Cocky, The Urchins
Things to Remember Sir, The Kid, The Urchins
Put It in the Book The Kids, The Urchins
With All Due Respect Cocky
This Dream Cocky
Where Would You Be Without Me? Sir, Cocky
Look At That Face Sir, The Kid, The Urchins
My First Love Song Cocky, The Girl
The Joker Cocky
Put 'Im In the Box The Urchins
Who Can I Turn To? Cocky
A Funny Funeral
That's What It Is To Be Young The Urchins
What a Man! Cocky, Sir, The Kid, The Urchins
Feeling Good The Negro, The Urchins
Nothing Can Stop Me Now! Cocky, The Urchins
Things to Remember (Reprise) Sir
My Way Cocky, Sir
Who Can I Turn To? (Reprise) Sir
The Beautiful Land (Reprise) The Urchins
Sweet Beginning Cocky, Sir, The Kid, The Urchins
THE BEAUTIFUL LAND
When the curtain rose the stage was empty; almost immediately the Urchins arrive to sing THE BEAUTIFUL LAND. This is a
song about colors and, in fact, ties directly into the colored blocks of the circular hopscotch game. At the time the show moved
to New York, there used to be a British Transport red double decker bus parked outside the Shubert Theatre (I think it was
mainly advertising for British Airways), and by the time I saw the show on Broadway, Newley had changed the lyrics from
"Red is the color of a lot of lollipops" to "Red is the color of a double decker bus" and I always assumed it was this actual bus
that made him change the lyric.
All the Urchins were played by young girls, but I suspect from their plus fours and peaked hats they were meant to be boys; it
was sort of a pantomime thing. In Britain, pantomimes are shows mainly for children which run at Christmas time, and the hero,
like Aladdin, is always played by a girl; and the villain, like Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother, is always played by an older man
in drag (the pantomime dame). I may be wrong; it may be that all the young boys who could sing and dance were in the road
production of OLIVER!. Newley himself said he chose girls because he liked girls and I, for one, believe him!
Red is the color of a lot of lollipops,
Orange is any orange on a tree.
Yellow's the color of a bag of lemon drops,
Green is a piece of seaweed in the sea.
Blue is the color of the sky in summertime
Indigo is a Siamese cat's eyes.
Violet's the color of a flow'r in wintertime.
These are the colors of the rainbow skies.
There is a beautiful land
Where all your dreams come true;
It's all tied up in a rainbow,
All shiny and new;
But it's not easy to find
No matter what you do.
It's not on top of a mountain
Or beneath the deep blue sea
Or in London zoo or in Timbuktoo,
Or in Timbuckthree.
And if you travelled the world
From China to Peru,
There's no beautiful land on the chart.
An explorer could not begin
To discover its origin
For the beautiful land is in your heart.
A WONDERFUL DAY LIKE TODAY
This is a number you don't hear much now, but at the time the show came out, it was recorded by a number of people. It is a
peppy, upbeat number. I was disappointed when the original cast album came out because in the show all the complaining lines
(Half of me's freezing - the other half's froze) were sung by Newley; on the album, these complaining lines are almost entirely
missing except for two brief lines sung by the head Urchin, called the Kid, played by Sally Smith, but in the show, even these
lines were Newley's. I imagine Newley was pretty worn out from doing the show 8 days a week and directing it and having to
record the original cast album on his only day off, so he probably was happy pass on his portion of this song, but I've always
regretted the omission. However, if you have Real Audio, click here for 30 seconds of a version Newley recorded for an
album of songs from GREASEPAINT.
I've watched documentaries and read articles about the recording of Broadway cast albums (and I was actually present at the
recording of a good bit of the original cast album for THE ROTHSCHILDS). Popular thinking seems to be to "restage" the
number so that it's palatable to listen to over and over; and delete any of the introductory (or subsequent) dialogue because
people will get tired of hearing it. I don't know what people these are who get tired of this, but it's not me, and I always want
the album to reproduce as much as possible the experience of seeing the show live on stage, so I was very pleased they left in
Cyril Ritchard's brief opening comment - "By the flickering flame of Mount Olympus, Cocky, it's great to be back in the game!"
Ritchard's dialogue was full of this kind of flowery exhortation which he delivered splendidly; some of the others were: "By the
bountiful belly of Bacchus", "By the golden tonsils of Euterpe" and "By the salacious fleshpots of the Virgin Islands".
What's happened at this point is that Sir, Cocky and the Kid have made their entrance. Sir has a shooting stick, which is a sort
of cane where one end opens so you can sit on it and Cocky is bent over like a beast of burden carrying all the luggage, which
includes a carpet bag, picnic basket, some pots and pans and a huge book. Sir is actually in a cart that Cocky is pulling and the
Kid is pushing. They are all dressed rather shabbily. Sir is wearing a long coat with tails down to his shoes; and Cocky is
wearing a green suit with a short jacket.
Newley wears sort of clown makeup around his eyes - not the whole whiteface he wore in STOP THE WORLD, but his eyes
were similarly made up. Ritchard is made to look fat with padding, and apparently he was vain enough to request that, just after
the WHERE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT ME number (which includes a rather physical dance), he be allowed to show his
real stomach so that audiences could see the fatness was all due to padding. It must have been very hot under hot stage lights
wearing all that padding. Ritchard is so droll in this role - I can't picture anyone else playing someone so rotten but still coming
off so lovable. (I always wanted to hear him do a duet with Hermione Gingold - that wonderful exaggerated nasal quality they
both had - shown to advantage here when he first sings "on a wonderful..." Ironically, they have a joint CD, John Murray
Anderson's ALMANAC, but they don't sing together on it.)
This song sets up the fact that Sir has the upper hand; he's the one with the money; he's on the sunny side of the street while
Cocky is shivering out in the cold and starving to death.
By the flickering flame of Mount Olympus, Cocky, it's great to be back at the game!
The second I saw it, I knew.
I said to myself: "Aha!"
I could tell at a glance
That it wasn't by chance
That we happened to be where we are.
From the moment I woke with the lark,
We were both of us singing away,
And the sky was so blue
I instinctively knew
We were in for a wonderful day.
As I told you before
When I saw what I saw,
I was terribly tempted to say:
On a wonderful day like today,
I defy any cloud to appear in the sky,
Dare any raindrop to plop in my eye
On a wonderful day like today.
On a wonderful morning like this
When the sun is as big as a yellow balloon;
Even the sparrows are signing in tune
On a wonderful morning like this.
On a morning like this I could kiss ev'rybody,
I'm so full of love and good will.
Let me say furthermore, I'd adore ev'rybody
To come and dine -- the pleasure's mine --
And I will play the bill!
May I take this occasion to say
That the whole human race
Should go down on its knees,
Show that we're grateful
For mornings like these
For the world's in a wonderful way
On a wonderful day like today.
On a wonderful day like today
When the sky is as grey as an elephant's's nose,
Half of me's freezing - the other half's froze!
On a wonderful day like today - I'm only joking!
May I take this occasion to pray
For a little less cold and a little more heat.
Even the sparrows are stamping their feet;
If they spoke I know just what they'd say!
On a wonderful day like today.
On a wonderful day ...
Yes, Sir, what did you say?
A fantabulous day!
Don't get carried away.
On a wonderful day like today!
IT ISN'T ENOUGH
This number is about relying on luck and superstition to change your miserable life instead of standing up for what you believe in
and taking action. However, it manages to convey this a lot more entertainingly than I have baldly stated it. Newley sings this
song while wearing a lot of talismans around his neck which the song enumerates: a wishbone, a clover, rabbit's foot, horse
shoe. I can no longer visualize the dance he did, but I do recall it was executed with grace and very funny.
It isn't enough to hope.
It isn't enough to dream
It isn't enough to plot and plan and scheme.
It isn't enough to stand here,
Saying that life is grand here,
Waiting for something good to turn up.
It isn't enough to sit here,
Having a purple fit here,
Worried to death the world will burn up.
It isn't enough to hope.
It isn't enough to dream.
I've got a better answer.
I've got a better scheme.
Why not wish upon a wishbone,
Pick a four-leaf clover,
Rub a rabbit's foot and
Throw a horse shoe over
Your lucky shoulder?
You'll find before you're very much older
A bit of luck will come your way.
Now isn't that enough to make your day?
THINGS TO REMEMBER
This is a song Sir sings to the Kid, as a kind of mentor. I've always thought it was more like poetry; take away the music, and
this would still be very readable and enjoyable. Cocky has become sick to his stomach from being spun around by the Urchins
and whenever he starts to feel even slightly better, Sir deliberately says something to make him ill again, such as the line about
eating curry with custard.
If you have Real Audio, click here for 30 seconds of THINGS TO REMEMBER.
If you want to grow up to be a gentleman, my child, you have a great deal to learn.
There are so many things to remember
As you travel the highway of life,
Like always be kind to your husband
Or, if you're a man, to your wife.
You must never shoot trout in September.
You must never feed babies on gin.
Don't ever play poker on Sundays
Unless you are certain to win! Ha ha.
Don't go out of your way seeking danger -
Never stand on a crocodile's tail!
Never buy London Bridge from a stranger
Unless you can make a few bob on the sale!
Don't waste time with the friends that repel you
And don't ever drink soup with a knife!
Don't buy what those gypsy girls sell you,
And if you remember these things that I tell you
By Hell, you'll do well all your life!
When I think of the good things that life has to give,
I'm reluctantly forced to agree
That the number of people who know how to live
Is restricted, quite simply, to me.
For life is like cricket - we play by the rules -
But the secret which few people know,
Which keep men of class well apart from the fools
Is to think up the rules as you go.
Do-de-oh-do.
There are so many things to remember
When you study the fruit of the vine
And I am a hell of a student
And that's why I drink so much wine.
(I do beg your pardon).
Drinking Cointreau with salt beef and mustard
Is, of course, gastronomically wrong,
And don't ever eat curry with custard -
You'll find that it never says down very long!
Don't drink champagne from soggy old slippers
Though this barbaric custom is rife.
Don't lift up a whale by its flippers
And only buy claret from certified shippers,
Avoid eating goulash with ice cream and kippers.
Remember these things, you obnoxious young nippers,
And you will do well all your life.
So cheers, me dears, and here's to life!
PUT IT IN THE BOOK
Among the luggage Cocky has been carrying around is a large book. Sir makes up new rules with each game and forces
Cocky to write them down; the book is a history of Cocky's losses and contains a lot of "thou shalt nots" such as "Thou shalt
not glut" and "Thou shalt not pride".
This song is sung by the Urchins; Newley is on stage, almost hidden by the huge book, and sort of shrugs his shoulders and
moves the huge pencil in time to the beats of the music.
Put it in the book!
Jump about a bit!
Put it in the book for me!
Put it in the book!
Don't get out of it.
Mustn't cook the book, tee hee.
Put it in the book!
Put it in the book!
Put it in the book!
And do it nicely.
Put it in the book!
You're a bit of a crook!
To put it precisely!
Put it in the book!
When it's in the book,
Let us have a look - let's see!
Now it's in the book
And the job is done.
Cor, you are a one - two, three.
Put it in the book!
Put it in the book!
Put it in the book!
Put it in the book!
Put it in the book for me!
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT
This number was among my favorites when I saw the show in Philly, and it is on the original cast album, but by the time the
show opened in New York, it was gone. I was furious, because not only did I like the song and the saucy little dance Newley
did when Cocky finally stands up to Sir, but also I thought it set up a situation which was important, and which later is made
reference to in SWEET BEGINNINGS, when Sir tries to interject the phrase "with all due respect" after Cocky has finally won
a game. It may be this is one of those annoying autocratic interferences David Merrick imposed, or it may be Newley was
wiped out from having so many numbers and decided to give himself a break and have one less song to sing and dance to
dance; it's a very physical and demanding thing to do musical comedy on Broadway (or anywhere) 8 times a week.
The roar of the greasepaint - the smell of the..
No, no, no, no --
With all due respect, Sir,
I'd like to say a word or three
About the way you're treating me
In front of ev'ryone.
You say I lay about and shirk,
You must take me for such a jerk,
'Cause I do all the bleeding work
While you have all the fun.
Far be it from me, Sir,
To dare to carp or criticize.
I just want you to realize
I don't do this for exercise.
I just want you to see, Sir,
How wicked and unfair it is.
I dunno why, but there it is.
It's more than I can bear;
And, frankly, I object -
That is, with due respect.
Forgive my presumption;
I know that you're a gentleman,
A slightly temperamental man,
A man of intellect.
But I suspect that your neglect
Is largely why my health is wrecked.
No ifs or buts; I hate your guts,
With all due respect.
I don't wish to be rude, Sir,
But ev'rything I do is wrong.
You make me feel I don't belong
Because I dropped off in your song.
Please give me some food, Sir,
A bit of bread and cheese will do
Or maybe just a crust or two,
But something I can chew.
He feeds me once a week;
I'm much too weak to speak.
Permit me to say, Sir,
I've had about enough of it.
I always get the rough of it,
So what could you expect?
You must detect the bad effect
You've had upon my self-respect.
A bleedin' shame,
But who's to blame?
With all due respect.
My mind you have mastered;
You sit there half plastered.
You aren't half a ...
Cocky!
With all due respect.
With all due respect!
THIS DREAM
As he prepares to play the game for a job, Cocky sings of his hopes and aspirations. This develops into a dream sequence in
which Cocky imagines his dream girl (played by Joyce Jillson who now does horoscopes in the New York Daily News) and
successfully defends her from an imaginary dragon (made up of the Urchins strung together like a Chinese dragon).
This dream -
I have this wonderful dream where I win -
Where I win ev'ry battle I fight,
And I kill ev'ry dragon in sight.
Each night I lie awake
And I wait for this dream.
What a world I create when I dream
I'm not lonely -
A pity it's only a dream;
But such a fabulous dream
That I feel
That the real world is really unreal,
While the wildest of dreams
Can come true. They do;
But they only come true in this dream.
WHERE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT ME?
This is a great song just to listen to, but it was really exciting on stage; Newley and Ritchard would have made a great
vaudeville team; at some point, they get rid of their shabby hats and get canes and straw hats; they do a variety of amusing
steps, including a sort of lockstep and a high kick and some movements to a lobsterscope, which was a great crowd pleaser.
Newley moved his pelvis in this number and seemed fully aware of how the audience enjoyed this. When I was sitting in the first
row at the Shubert, I heard him say, under his breath, just prior to the last line of the song: "Wait for it, wait for it". I don't know
whether he was speaking to the audience or the orchestra leader, but he was really sexy and funny in this number. Click here
for an image file.
The appearance of the phrase "Cockius useless est" seems indicative of how literate the show was. In fact, this is just the latest
in a series of running gags in which Sir would quote a Latin motto and Cocky, who could "scarcely read or write or spell",
would misinterpret it in a humorous way. For instance, Sir says "Nihil traditionis sans gloria, quid quid libertas. Do you know
what that means, Cocky?" and Cocky replies, "Yes, sir. You can't take liberties with Gloria without paying her the traditional
two quid." Later, as Cocky (who has been standing throughout the play) is about to sit on the huge book he's been lugging
around, Sir says to him: "Ars ex libris, do you know what that means, Cocky?" When Cocky doesn't, Sir roars at him: "It
means get your backside off The Book!"
Come to think of it:
Where would you be without me, Cocky,
Just tell me, where would you be?
Look at yourself - you are so dreary -
Oh dearie, oh me!
How could you cope without my friendship
And my kindly old face?
Don't you know money can't buy friendship?
It's so hard to replace...money.
Where would you be without my courage?
I am as fearless as three.
Faithful, if you should flag,
Strong if you start to sag.
Cocky, you've got to agree.
Tell me, frankly,
Where would you be without me?
I dunno, Sir. The trouble with you, Sir, is you're too good to me. I don't deserve the way you treat me.
Oh, Cocky!
No, really:
Where would I be without you, Guv'nor?
Gawd only knows where I'd be!
Look at my life - it has no magic!
It's tragic to see!
I mean I couldn't live without your friendship
And your expert advice.
Yours is a lasting and sure friendship
And what's more - you're so nice!
Aren't I?
Where would I be without your goodness
Helping to carry me through?
People just pass me by;
Whether I live or die,
They wouldn't care -
But I do!
Tell me, frankly,
Where would I be -
Where would you be?
Where would I be
Without you?
Where would I be without you, Guv'nor?
You've got no style -
You've got no class -
Without me, you'd be on your...
Ask yourself, Sir, just where would I be?
You can scarcely read or write or spell.
For my part, you can go to...
Well, Sir,
I try to do my best.
Cockius useless est.
Know what that means, you pest?
No!
Hah! There, you see? Frankly,
Where would you be?
I'd be up a tree.
And what would you do?
I'd throw things at you!
You're up a tree without...
Can't picture me without...
Where would you be without me?
Y-O-U spells me!
LOOK AT THAT FACE
To entice Cocky to play again, Sir sings this number, sarcastically building him up only to knock him down. The Kid sings all
the nasty lyrics - (You've got a face like Dracula) as Cocky is crowned a mock King with a chamberpot as a crown.
Look at that face -
Just look at it,
Look at that fabulous face of yours.
I knew first look I took at it,
This was the face that the world adores.
Look at those eyes -
As wise and as deep as the sea.
Look at that nose -
It shows what a nose should be.
As for your smile, it's lyrical -
Friendly and warm as a summer's day -
That face is just a miracle.
Where could I ever find words to say
The way that it makes me happy
Whatever the time or place?
I'll find in no book
What I find when I look
At that face.
Look at that face -
Just look at it.
Look at that funny old face of yours.
I knew first look I took at it
You've got a face like a kitchen door's.
Look at those eyes -
As close as the closest of friends.
Look at that nose -
It starts where a good nose ends.
As for your smile - spectacular!
One grin would frighten the birds away.
You've got a face like Dracula!
And I mean that in the nicest way!
To say that there's no one like you
Would not even state the case.
No wonder I shook
When I first took a look
At that face.
MY FIRST LOVE SONG
Sir brings on Cocky's dream girl and, as soon as Cocky sees her, he is smitten and sings this sweet song to her. The Girl is
placed in the center of the hopscotch area, which is the goal of the game.
My first love song -
This is my first love song;
But it takes a poet to make a rhyme.
I'm not clever!
I could never ever
Think of phases worthy of you.
Each endeavor
I may make to sing your praises
May not sound as it should do.
But I love you -
Please believe I love you -
And I'd love the way poets do - to
Bring my love song
And sing my love song to you.
My first love song;
This is my first love song.
No one's ever needed my love before.
You're like I am -
All alone like I am
And in need of someone to care.
Poor like I am -
Like the lonely souls you read of,
You and I, we're a fine pair.
If you love me
I really love you
As you say you love me
I really care for you, dear.
I will be so happy to see you
Bring your love song
And sing your love song to me.
My first love song.
Sing your love song to me!
THE JOKER
Cocky plays the game for the girl and loses; Sir walks off with her, and Cocky sings this marvelous song (listening to it now, I
can hear a lot of similarities to GOLDFINGER, which Newley and Bricusse also wrote). This was a very emotional part of the
show; Cocky has been defeated once again and lost the girl of his dreams, and he's feeling really sorry for himself.
There's always a joker in the pack -
There's always a cardboard clown.
The poor painted fool falls on his back
And ev'ryone laughs when he's down.
There's always a funny man in the game;
But he's only funny by mistake;
But ev'ryone laughs at him just the same -
They don't see his painted heart break.
They don't care as long as there is a jester -
Just a fool - as foolish as he can be.
There's always a joker, that's a rule
But Fate deals the hand and I see -
The Joker is me!
PUT 'IM IN THE BOX
Sir taunts Cocky about the girl, and Cocky, who is now drunk, gets really furious with him. Anticipating an attack, Sir has had
the Urchins create a dummy dressed up like Sir, and Cocky attacks it. Sir tells Cocky that it's his younger brother Bertie ("on
my mother side - I was always on my father's side meself") and Bertie is now dead.
This number was in the Playbill when I saw the show in Philly and gone when I saw it in New York. It's tempting to think it was
sung to the tune of PUT IT IN THE BOOK, but actually I have no memory of it at all, and suspect it was sung by the Urchins
when "Bertie" was being stuffed into a coffin.
WHO CAN I TURN TO?
Cocky is horrified he's killed an innocent bystander and sings the most famous number from GREASEPAINT; it was recorded
by a number of popular singers, including Shirley Bassey and Tony Bennett. It's not at all clear from the lyrics, but Cocky is all
alone on stage and singing to God. In the end he dumps all his talismans and stalks offstage, and it has great emotional impact
as the first act closer.
Who can I turn to
When nobody needs me?
My heart wants to know
And so I must go
Where destiny leads me.
With no star to guide me
And no one beside me,
I'll go on my way
And after the day
The darkness will hide me.
And maybe tomorrow
I'll find what I'm after.
I'll throw off my sorrow -
Beg, steal or borrow
My share of laughter.
With you I could learn to;
With you on a new day.
But who can I turn to
If you turn away?
THAT'S WHAT IT IS TO BE YOUNG
This is sung by the Urchins and is basically a list of similes of what it feels like to be young. In the show it is preceded by a song
called A FUNNY FUNERAL which is about burying the dummy that Cocky thinks is Sir's brother Bertie (whom he thinks he's
killed). I remember the segue between these two songs was:
And now poor Bertie's dead
And his requiem's been sung
We must admit we're bloody glad
To be alive and young. Alive and young.
Fresh as an April morning,
Soft as a tulip's tongue,
Clear as the gleam of a mountain stream;
That's what it is to be young.
Warm as a summer sunrise,
Sweet as an evening breeze,
Pure as a note from a songbird's throat,
Rich as the green of the trees,
Strong as the bite of a frosty night,
Bold as a big brass band,
Keen as a bean or a young sardine --
Not very keen to be canned,
Bright as a newborn bluebell,
New as a song unsung,
Free as the breeze on the seven seas;
That's what it is to be young.
WHAT A MAN!
This is Cocky starting to revolt against Sir, first buttering him up and praising him. And Sir is falling for it (It's true. I am.)
What a wonderful feller! What a prince! What a saint!
What a man! What a man!
You are more like a god than a man!
What a prize! What a pearl!
What a wonderful capture for some lucky girl!
That finesse! That physique!
Make a rare combination you don't see
Each day of the week.
It's so chic, entre-nous,
To be friends with a fabulous man like you.
Thank you, Cocky, I don't know what to say, except it's your move.
Ah, what a man! What a man!
Like a statue of Mars with a tan.
You've got brains! You've got brawn!
You were blessed by the gods
From the day you were born.
So polite! Such panache!
Such a style of your own, it's no wonder you cut such a dash!
Never brash - always so!
You're by far the most marvelous man I know.
He's a thing beyond worth.
Without doubt the most outstanding,
Downright and upstanding,
Forthright and highstanding man.
What a man!
Who me? Yes, you.
It's true; I am.
What a man he is! Oh, what a man!
FEELING GOOD
A young Negro (Gilbert Price) comes by and Sir decides to let Cocky play against him. The Negro instantly notices he can't
win if he lets Cocky make up all the rules, so Sir takes over the game, but while Sir and Cocky are arguing, the Negro manages
to reach the center and win. In his moment of triumph he sings FEELING GOOD. Similar to the similes used in THAT'S
WHAT IT IS TO BE YOUNG, this is a bunch of metaphors about how it feels to be a winner.
Bird flying high - you know how I feel.
Sun in the sky - you know how I feel.
Breeze drifting by - you know how I feel.
It's a new dawn; it's a new day;
It's a new life for me.
Feeling good.
Fish in the sea - you know how I feel.
River running free - you know how I feel.
Blossom on the tree - you know how I feel.
It's a new dawn; it's a new day;
It's a new life for me.
Feeling good.
Dragonfly out in the sun - you know what I mean.
Butterflies all having fun - you know what I mean.
Sleep in peace when day is done - that's what I mean;
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world for me.
Stars when you shine - you know how I feel.
Scent of the pine - you know how I feel.
Freedom is mine - I know how I feel.
It's a new dawn; it's a new day;
It's a new life for me.
Feeling good.
NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW!
Previously, Cocky has played and lost the game for food, for work, for love, and for revenge. Now he's finally seen someone
win the game, Cocky is imbued with confidence and plays again (for Sir's cigar) by ignoring Sir's rules, as the Negro did, and
finally wins. This is his song of triumph.
I don't believe it!
Pinch me to see if I am awake!
I can't believe it!
Wake me and say there's been a mistake!
No, don't! I'd sooner sleep on
In case - that is - until the dream has gone.
No, this is no dream, my friend.
This, it would seem,
Is where my troubles end.
Stand well back - I'm comin' through -
Nothing can stop me now!
Watch out, world - I'm warning you -
Nothing can stop me now!
Now I know that there is a Promised Land
I'm gonna find it, and how!
Hope is high and I'm gonna cling to it -
Tie ev'ry string to it -
Give ev'ry thing to it.
I'll make all my dreams come true
Before my final bow!
How I'll do it, who can say?
But I know I will someday.
Watch out, world - I'm on my way -
Nothing can stop me now!
I shall find success today -
Nothing can stop me now!
Yesterday was yesterday -
Nothing can stop me now!
Now I know the future is mine to have
I'm hereby makin' a vow!
From now on I'm gonna begin again -
Stick out my chin again -
Go in and win again!
Get you gone, you sky of grey!
Farewell, you furrowed brow!
Now my future's crystal clear!
No more woe for me to fear!
I'm gonna stand this world upon its ear -
And I'll succeed somehow!
I'll walk a million miles
For life's full of smiles.
Nothing can stop me now!
THINGS TO REMEMBER (Reprise)
Not pleased that Cocky has won, Sir has a very tall Bully dress up in drag, complete with a long blonde wig, and tricks Cocky
into playing the game for this reward. While the Bully is beating up Cocky (off stage), Sir sings this reprise, which has such
great sarcasm - "They were wonderful days I remember, when a feller could live like a king; and children were working in coal
mines; and life was a beautiful thing" and is done so beautifully by Ritchard; again, take away the music and it would be poetry;
especially the last lines which are really a great philosophy for anyone's life.
When I think of the era in which I was raised
And I see how the world's gone to waste,
I confess that I'm constantly shocked and amazed
At man's singular lack of good taste.
For taste is like justice - we live by her laws.
It's so easy to tell right from wrong.
Most people don't bother;
Most people are whores.
And a few bores who do, don't for long.
There are so many things I remember
From the deeply revered days of old
When living was gentle and gracious
And working folk did as they're told.
They were wonderful days, I remember,
When a feller could live like a king;
And children were working in coal mines
And life was a beautiful thing.
But the fortunes of mankind are changing;
Things aren't what they were anymore;
And although I'm in no way complaining,
By Harris and Tweed, I preferred it before.
Ah, but why think of May in November
When December is all that you'll get?
Man lives with a lingering ember
And while there are beautiful things to remember
The ugly things one should forget!
MY WAY
Now that Cocky has won the game, he tries to switch places with Sir - he wants to be the one who gets to make up the rules
(which is how Sir has managed to win all the previous times - by inventing new rules every game).
The way this number was staged live when Newley gets to the line "Your game could lead to wars", there is a huge crash and
the lights brighten then dim, as if a bomb has gone off. Newley's finger was pointed at Sir and he gives it a look afterwards, as if
to say, I didn't know it was loaded, which got a laugh.
From now on, we're gonna do things my way.
My way, or not at all.
We're gonna do what I wanna to when I say
Not when you say, but when I say.
And I say that my way is the sure way.
My way will work out fine;
And if you still prefer to do things your way,
You go your way and I'll go mine.
From now on we're gonna do things my way!
No, we're not!
We're gonna do things my way
Or not at all!
If we leave it up to you we're gonna rue things
We're gonna do what I wanna do
When I say!
I say!
Not when you say!
I say!
But when I say!
Now let me have my say:
I say that my way is the sure way
We'd be better off to do things...
My way will work out fine
If we leave it up to you
You're gonna screw things
If you'd still prefer to do things your way
I would
Then you go your way
Good.
And I'll go mine.
Good, and I'll go mine.
Good, and I'll go mine.
Now, let me have my say:
From now on we're gonna see some changes;
Changes - that's what we need!
I'm gonna play what I wanna play when I say -
Not when you say - but when I say.
And I say that your game is a sly game.
Your game could lead to wars;
And if you're not prepared to play at my game,
Then I'll pay my game.
And you play yours!
And you play yours!
And you play yours!
And you play yours!
And you play yours!
WHO CAN I TURN TO? (REPRISE)
This was not on the original cast album when it was released on long playing records, and I had forgotten Cyril Ritchard got to
sing it. I was reminded when this number showed up on the CD version of GREASEPAINT. Sir is feeling sorry for himself at
this point, because not only has Cocky revolted but also the Kid, who has been carrying out all his nasty tricks, has abandoned
him.
SWEET BEGINNING
This is the closing number, when Cocky has decided all the old rules are gone and the game can now be played elsewhere with
greater equality - with at least a fighting chance of winning. The show and the song end with Cocky and Sir silhouetted against a
large circle of light representing the moon (this photo was on the cover of the playbills); each of them has a finger raised to the
other, arguing because one of them wants to go left and one wants to go right. The curtain comes down on them frozen in this
argument. It's a very poignant image and sums up the eternal struggle that you know will continue even after the curtain goes
down. Click here for another version of this photo.
This, my friend, is only the beginning -
Such a sweet beginning, too.
Now, at last, I see a chance of winning -
See a chance of breaking through.
Who can say? Today may live in hist'ry
As long as there's a hist'ry book.
Yesterday the world was still a myst'ry;
Today it has a new and diff'rent look.
So, my friend, let's send the old world spinning;
Change is what I recommend.
Come on, my friend, let's see this sweet beginning
Through to the bitter end!
Through to the bitter end!