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  • Words & Music

    Double Entendre Edition

    Much of the comedy in “Musical Comedy” is the ability to play with words. The greatest of musical composers seem to love the fun that comes with twisting words in the some of the most conspiratorial positions and letting the dustier minds in the audience play around with them.

    Kicking this off with I Love the Way from Something Rotten. Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick took their lead from Shakespeare and hid all sorts of giggles in the double meanings.

    Portia:
    I love Sydney, and Marlow,
    And often I borrow their words to express how I feel.
    I love poems of mystery,
    Fantasy, history, oh what seductive appeal.

    At night, alone in my bedroom,
    Satisfying my need.
    The candlelight fire ignites my desire,
    To read

    Oh, every time I hear a perfect rhyme I get all tingly
    Because I know,
    That to find a perfect rhyme is not an easy, thingly. I love places that words let me go
    I love the way that your words move me so
    No words have touched me the way that yours do
    And I love…

    (you are really doing something to me mister poetry man
    Oh forgive me, I never get to discuss poems in this way)

    Nigel:
    (Oh it’s okay,
    I just never knew that poetry could affect someone the way it affects me.) Portia:
    (Me neither)

    Nigel:
    It’s the end all, the be all. Oh, you ought a see all the books that I have on my shelf

    Portia:
    (Me too!)
    I find pleasure perusing those writings and musing so often I pleasure myself
    Wait, that didn’t sound right

    Nigel:
    No, I know what you mean
    When I’m deep in the throes of impassionate prose,
    I could scream

    Portia:
    (You scream?)

    Nigel:
    (Yeah)

    Portia:
    (So do I! Ahh )
    Oh, I love a lilting line of lyrical alliteration.

    Nigel:
    Who doesn’t love alliteration?

    Portia:
    And then I’m like well, when the phrases come together like a consummation

    Nigel:
    It’s sweet elation

    Both:
    I love the places that words let me go,
    I love the way that your words move me so
    I love, that you feel, the same way I do

    And I love,
    You know that I love,
    You know that I love,

    Nigel: (Me too!)

    You get the idea. From here on out, there are even more risqué lyrics to come from some of our greatest composers:

    Cy Coleman and lyricist David Zippel

    Cole Porter

    Richard Rodgers (music) and Lorenz Hart (lyrics)

    Stephen Sondheim

    Frank Wildhorn and lyricist Leslie Bricusse

    Mel Brooks

    1. Jamie Avatar
      Jamie

      Drat! I forgot to include “I Never Do Anything Twice”.

      https://youtu.be/7av9krAJQ8g?si=4FLUUEcKBQnPBv8a

About Me

Retired great grandmother living in Washington. Former radio Public Service Director and National Accounts Manager.

I’m a hair-dishevelled heilan’ coo,
Hamish McKay be ma name;
Welcome tae this dreichet glen
I’m cursed tae ca’ ma hame.
Depending on the mood I’m in
I’ll raise ma horns on high,
An’ if I like the look o’ ye
I’ll likely let ye by.
But should I dinnae like the look
O’ ye, then tak great care,
I’ll raise ma horns on high again,
Go on, get oot o’there!
So whether welcome yae or nae,
I’ll raise these horns sae mean,
Then ye shall ken ma meaning
By the twinkle o’ ma een.

Courtesy of
MARION GRAY Wollaton Road Wollaton Park Nottingham

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