Jerry Herman

The Lyrics

Jerry Herman, Ken Bloom

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2004
• ISBN:
  9781135885793
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music

Jerry Herman is one of Broadway's most celebrated composers and lyricists. He is the author of two of the biggest successes in musical theater history: Hello, Dolly! and Mame. Herman is also responsible for Mack and Mabel, Milk and Honey, and the musical version of the film La Cage Aux Folles. All of these have been produced many times, in both professional and amateur productions around the world. He is currently writing a new musical, Miss Spectacular, commissioned by Steve Wynn to be produced in a new theater at his Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. This book offers all of the lyrics to Herman's well-loved songs along with rare production photographs from all of his shows. It includes early lyrics from Herman's first Broadway revues and shows, songs cut from his best-loved shows, and new lyrics. Herman's songs have been sung by all the masters of American pop song but have never been collected before. In addition to the lyrics, Herman offers his personal reminiscences and comments on the lyrics and the shows. For the fan of Broadway theater and of Jerry Herman's works, this book will be a treasure.

1
OFF-BROADWAY

The off-Broadway scene in the 1950s was a wide-open world of possibilities. Corporations and large producing concerns hadn't discovered off-Broadway yet simply because there wasn't much money to be made in 99-seat theatres. But there was talent itching to show its stuff and a sense of experimentation and freedom in a surprisingly non-elitist community of artists and craftspeople.

Jerry's introduction to off-Broadway came with the opening of I Feel Wonderful at the Theatre de Lys in 1954. The show featured a young Phyllis Newman in its cast. It was followed four years later with Nightcap, which was produced in the Showplace cabaret. Rita Gardner and Kenneth Nelson of future Fantasticks fame were featured along with an unknown Charles Nelson Reilly.

Jerry took the best of Nightcap and morphed it into Parade, which opened at the Players Theatre in 1960. Charles Nelson Reilly came along, too, and was paired with Dody Goodman. Future lighting designer extraordinaire Jules Fisher, just starting out, lit the sets of Gary Smith; he used carpet tubes painted white as a chief design element (see photos inside). But Jerry knew he was really getting somewhere when Kapp Records recorded an original cast album—and when Jerry was asked, on the basis of his score for Parade, to write a musical about Israel. That musical was Milk and Honey.

Following Milk and Honey's successful opening on Broadway in 1961, Jerry returned to off-Broadway two months later with the book show Madame Aphrodite. The show, starring Nancy Andrews, was a quick failure.

Then it was back to Broadway for Jerry and the biggest successes of his career. —K.B.

NIGHTCAP IN THE SACK

I had a figure problem with the fashions
of the past

But no more figure problem—now my shape's
in style at last

In the sack
In the sack
No one knows that I'm poorly designed
I'm a runt in the front
And there's too much behind what's behind
But who knows
And who sees
Underneath my Parisian chemise
Who can tell what I lack
I'm in perfect design
Every fella of mine
Says I'm simply divine

In the sack
I'm a mess
In a dress
With a peek-a-boo split up the side

And I frown on a gown
Where there simply is no place to hide
So blow horns
Wave the flag
I'm the belle of the ball in the bag
I'm the pick of the pack
Since I took up the trend
Every gentleman friend
Says I'm simply the end
(In the sack)

For the new look
I was much too dumpy
I could never get a sheath around myself
For the flat look
I was much too lumpy
But I found myself
When I found myself

In the sack
In the sack
I am burning my old basic black
Each designer I see
From New York to Paree
Wants to throw little me
In the sack

IN THE SACK This is typical of my early revue material that was mainly based on spoofing current trends and the latest headlines. Givenchy hadBut I can only just introduced the world to his sack dress, and so, I ran to my piano.—J.H.

NIGHTCAP MY TYPE

I am not discouraged ‘cause you never
Heard of me
I am not resentful ‘cause my name's obscure
Worrying about my lot would be absurd of me
‘Cause simple logic makes me absolutely
Sure that

My type is coming back
Fads that have gone their way
Soon find they're on their way back
They've gone through
Plain Janes and helpless mission girls
Oomph, zip, it.
Flappers and Prohibition girls,
Gina, Lena, Donna, Lana
Those who won't and those who wanna
My type is all that's left
Waiting politely can get a girl slightly perplexed
They've gone through you-alls and chic
chanteuses
Mae Wests and Mother Gooses
My type has gotta be next

Ev'ry little lamb that's lost is being found again
History has proven nothing's obsolete
I can feel the wheel of fortune spinning ‘round
again
Giving me the firm conviction to repeat

My type is next in line
Fads that have fallen are first to be crawlin’
in line
They've gone through
Wahoo and strut and shuffle girls

Charm, heart, wit
Pure hearted lace and ruffle girls
Girls who please the maharajah, Betty Boop,
Marlene, Zsa Zsa
My type is all that's left
I'm hanging on to hopes, looks like my
horoscopes hexed
They've gone through
That Hayworth and Monroe type
What's left but this “miss no type”
The girl's who gotta be

The girl who's gotta be next

NIGHTCAP I WISH I COULD SAY

I wish I could say
Such wonderful words
Instead of my foolish conversation
I wish I could sing
The glorious songs
I sing you in my imagination
I wish I could find a way to free
The dreams I have locked inside of me

Charles Nelson Reilly in Parade.

But I can only
Hope that your heart
One wonderful day
Will feel the beautiful things
I wish I could say

The beautiful things
I wish I could say

(following pages) Parade: 1 Dody Goodman, Richard Tone, Fia Karin, and Lester James. 2 Lester James and Fia Karin. 3 Dody Goodman. 4 Lester James. 5 Richard Tone. 6 Richard Tone and Fia Karin. 7 Jerry Herman, Dody Goodman, Richard Tone, Fia Karin, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Lester James. 8 Dody Goodman.

(following pages) Parade: 1 Dody Goodman, Richard Tone, Fia Karin, and Lester James. 2 Lester James and Fia Karin. 3 Dody Goodman. 4 Lester James. 5 Richard Tone. 6 Richard Tone and Fia Karin. 7 Jerry Herman, Dody Goodman, Richard Tone, Fia Karin, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Lester James. 8 ...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION BY ANGELA LANSBURY
• AN APPRECIATION BY SHELDON HARNICK
• 1 OFF-BROADWAY
• 2 MILK AND HONEY
• 3 HELLO, DOLLY!
• 4 MAME
• 5 DEAR WORLD
• 6 MACK AND MABEL
• 7 THE GRAND TOUR
• 8 LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
• 9 MRS. SANTA CLAUS
• 10 MISS SPECTACULAR
• 11 MISCELLANEOUS
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• INDEX