quote vingt: wordplay.

this post is dedicated to semantic sally.

as many of you know, i think stephen sondheim is an absolute genius, on par with the likes of shakespeare, donne, newton, dylan, picasso, woody and jordan.

in fact, if they're par, sometimes sondheim might even manage a birdie. ok, that's prolly not true, but i like the idea of it.

anyway, if he were to birdie, this would be one such time. it's a song from a show called anyone can whistle.

come play wiz me is a duet: a nurse pretending to be french, flirting with a doctor. the melody is catchy enough by itself, yet the lyrics are a batch of cold-bloodedly clever puns and plays on words. they stand on their own in writing, but if you want the complete experience, which i recommend, go here and listen to track 5. after you download the player (it's surprisingly, easy, quick, and hassle-free; else, i wouldnt endorse it), you get 25 free listens to anything. no money down!

anyway deux, this song always puts me in a jovial mood:

FAY:
Docteur, Docteur, vous êtes charmant,

HAPGOOD:
Mademoiselle, vous aussi.

FAY:
You like my hair, yes? My lips, yes?
Ze sway of my-How you say? - Of my hips, yes?
You wish to play wiz me?
Okay wiz me,
Come out and play wiz me.

HAPGOOD:
Mademoiselle, vous êtes jolie.

FAY:
Docteur, Docteur, si gentil.
You like my style, yes ? My brand, yes ?
Ze lay of my-How you say?-Of my land, yes ?
You want to play wiz me?
To stray wiz me,
Come out and play wiz me.

HAPGOOD:
Mademoiselle, vous êtes timide.

FAY :
Docteur, Docteur, you're so right.
I like your-How you say?-
Imperturbable perspicacity.
It isn't how you say, it's what you see!
We have ze lark, yes? Ze fling, yes?
Ze play is ze-How you say? -Is the thing, yes?
If you will play wiz me,
Mon cheri,
Though we may not agree
Today,
In time-
Mais oui! -
We may.

HAPGOOD:
I like your hair-

FAY:
Yes?

HAPGOOD:
Your lips-

FAY:
Yes?

HAPGOOD:
Ze sway of your-How you say? - Of your hips, yes?

FAY:
Yes?

HAPGOOD:
Come up and play wiz me.

FAY:
Come out and play wiz me.

BOTH:
Come on and play wiz me.

FAY:
Docteur, Docteur, let's play, Docteur...

HAPGOOD:
Mademoiselle, you're not well!
But I like your style-

FAY:
Yes?

HAPGOOD:
Your brand-

FAY:
Yes?

HAPGOOD:
Ze lay of your-qu'est-ce que c'est?-Of your land-

FAY:
Yes?

HAPGOOD:
I like your-How you say?-
Unmistakable authenticity!
It isn't how you say, it's what I see!

BOTH:
We have ze lark, yes? Ze fling, yes?
Ze play is ze-How you say?-Is the thing, yes?
If you will play wiz me,
Mon cheri,
Though we may not agree
Today,
In time-
Mais oui! -

HAPGOOD:
We may.

FAY:
Maybe-

HAPGOOD:
Bébé-

FAY:
Mais oui! -

BOTH:
We may!