A Legacy in Lyrics - Sondheim Songs that Shaped Me

Legendary composer Stephen Sondheim passed away yesterday at the age of 91. He was a creative giant in the Broadway community and inspired so many artists throughout the years with his unique concepts and intricate songwriting. 

Sondheim's most notable work included the music and lyrics for Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Passion, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy. He worked on 20+ shows throughout his career and never really wrote about the same topic twice.

I have loved Sondheim's work for as long as I can remember loving musical theatre in the way I do now. The first role I ever played (granted, I played her pretty poorly) was The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods Jr. I feel more in love with his finesse for songwriting and just how witty and emotional his shows could be.

In honor of his legacy, I would like to share just some (I could go on for a while) of his lyrics that have stuck with me, and hope you will appreciate them too. 

Into the Woods

Let the moment go / Don't forget it for a moment, though / Just remembering you've had an "and" / When you're back to "or" / Makes the "or" mean more / Than it did before

Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood. / Do not let it grieve you. / No one leaves for good. / You are not alone. / No one is alone.

Running away- go to it. / Where did you have in mind? / Have to take care / Unless there's a "where,"/ You'll only be wandering blind. / Just more questions. / Different kind.

Company

Someone to crowd you with love / Someone to force you to care / Someone to make you come through / Who'll always be there / As frightened as you / Of being alive

You can be my best friend, / I can be your right arm.

So here's to the girls on the go— / Everybody tries / Look into their eyes / And you'll see what they know: / Everybody dies / A toast to that invincible bunch / The dinosaurs surviving the crunch. / Let's hear it for the ladies who lunch—/ Everybody rise!

Sweeney Todd

No one's gonna hurt you / No one's gonna dare / Others can desert you / Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there / Demons will charm you with a smile / For a while / But in time / Nothing can harm you / Not while I'm around

And in the darkness / When I'm blind with what I can't forget / It's always morning in my mind / My little lamb / My pet / Johanna

He kept a shop in London Town / Of fancy clients and good renown / And what if none of their souls were saved? / They went to their maker impeccably shaved / By Sweeney / By Sweeney Todd / The demon barber of Fleet street

Sunday in the Park with George 

Stop worrying where you're going / Move on / If you can know where you're going / You've gone / Just keep moving on ... I chose, and my world was shaken / So what? / The choice may have been mistaken / The choosing was not

Mapping out a sky / What you feel like, planning a sky / What you feel when voices that come / Through the window / Go / Until they distance and die / Until there's nothing but sky

And how you're always turning back too late / From the grass or the stick / Or the dog or the light / How the kind of woman willing to wait's / Not the kind that you want to find waiting / To return you to the night/ Dizzy from the height

Pausing on a Sunday / By the cool blue triangular water / On the soft green elliptical grass / As we pass through arrangements of shadow / Toward the verticals of trees / Forever