Stephen Sondheim told me that Oscar Hammerstein believed everything that he wrote. So there's great truth in the songs, and that's what was so wonderful to find.
quote by Bernadette Peters
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months when I didn't see my own father.
quote by Stephen Sondheim
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to just entertainments in between comedy scenes.
quote by Stephen Sondheim
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
In the Rodgers and Hammerstein generation, popular hits came out of shows and movies.
quote by Stephen Sondheim
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't go out of my way to do it.
quote by Stephen Sondheim
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
When you know your cast well and their strengths and weaknesses, you can start writing for them, just the way Shakespeare wrote for his actors.
quote by Stephen Sondheim
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
So many good songs get written fast, because you know exactly what has to work.
quote by Stephen Sondheim
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Thrown to Hit
The truth has frightened.
None knew it would be like this.
They believed truth could be dismissed.
Like a white lie told from lips.
But truth is unresisting.
It hits like a ton of bricks.
And could care less,
Who denies its existence.
And those living without it...
Now find their lives in a mess.
The hour of truth has arrived.
And recognizing it,
Catches many by surprise.
Why?
Because so many believed,
It was something they could create.
Like a lie told that is given life.
But there is nothing artificial about truth.
It will always remain solid like a rock.
And when it is thrown to hit...
It hurts!
Getting over it...
Is not as easy as getting up off the ground!
Once it lands,
Truth has a tendency to stay around.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Number Three
Theres only two songs in me and I just wrote the third
Dont know where I got the inspiration or how I wrote the words
Spent my whole life just digging up my musics shallow grave
For the two songs in me and the third one I just made
A rich man once told me
Hey lifes a funny thing
A poor man once told me
That he cant afford to speak
Now Im in the middle like a bird without a beak cause
Theres just two songs in me and I just wrote the third
Dont know where I got the inspiration or how I wrote the words
Spent my whole life just digging up my musics shallow grave
For the two songs in me and the third one I just made
So I went to the president
And I asked old whats-his-name
Has he ever gotten writers block
Or something like the same
He just started talking
Like he was on tv
If theres just two songs in ya, boy
Whaddaya want from me?
So I bought myself some denim pants
And a silver guitar
But I politely told the ladies
Youll still have to call me sir
Because I have to keep my self-respect
Ill never be a star
Since theres just two songs in me
And this is number three
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Songs About Me, Songs About You
Well youve been movin all down that highway
You can turn another page
And if you finally get to the old folks home
Then you can finally act your age
I can make a million dollars
And you can spend it as fast as it comes
And you can sit there and cry on a bed full of lies
And be thankin that you got you some
CHORUS
Theyll be songs about me
Theyll be songs about you
Theyll be songs about everything from money to booze
But there wont be no songs of regret
Cause I aint wrote no songs like that yet
No I aint wrote no songs like that yet
You can hear me on the radio
You can see me on TV
You can dig you a hole to find your soul
And it gets you away from me
You can run as fast as an hourglass
You can fly as high as the wind
See you can be strong for as long as you like
But youll end up right back where you can
REPEAT CHORUS
I got a song for every occasion
Ive been told I got away with words
Ive been told that Id be loved forever
But its been only lies that Ive heard
Ive been bold in my days
Ive been goin my ways
Ive been packed up and moaned and gone right away
I belong to a song for as long as I say
But Ill always have a song to play
REPEAT CHORUS (2x)
No I aint wrote no songs like that yet (8x)
song performed by by Uncle Kracker
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Something Wonderful
(Richard RodgersOscar Hammerstein II)
He may not always say
What you would have him say
But now and then he'll say something wonderful
The thoughtless things he'll do
Will hurt and worry you
Then all at once he'll do something wonderful
He has a thousand dreams that won't come true
You know that he believes in them
And that's enough for you
You'll always go along with
Defend him when he's wrong
And tell him when he's strong
He is wonderful
He'll always need your love
And so you'll get you're love
A man who needs your love
Can be wonderful
song performed by by Carly Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
There is nothin' like a dame.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The dearest things I know are what you are.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Tell us The Truth
Tell us the truth
Tell us the truth
They said.
So he told them
The Truth,
Untainted
Undiluted
Straight
Direct
That's not the truth
It hurts,
They said.
Tell us the 'real' truth,
The Truth!
So he repeated it.
Again, the unadulterated
Spotless,
Plain truth.
You do not like us, do you, they said.
We're asking you
For the 'proper' truth,
The 'Real Truth',
Not
This hurtful rubbish
Tell us that truth
Tell us that truth.
So, weary,
And now wary,
He told it to them
Once more.
He did not change his story,
He told them
What he had always believed in,
He told them
That no matter how unpleasant
It sounded,
His feelings for them
Remained the same
He gave it to them
Once more,
Direct,
Undiluted,
Impartially,
But passionately nevertheless.
The Truth.
Go away, go away
They said.
You do not understand us
You do not like us.
Go away.
So goes the story
Of how they lost
The best leader
They could ever have had,
The only one
Who really understood them,
The only one
Who wanted nothing
But the best
'For Them',
The only one
Who never shied away
From The Truth
The only one
Who loved them as they were.
(Year 2002, Mars, The Sun Galaxy)
poem by District 13 Okiso Sooki
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
All the sounds of the earth are like music.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
You've got to be taught to hate and fear.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
If you become a teacher, by your pupils you'll be taught.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The number of people who will not go to a show they do not want to see is unlimited.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
What is a sophisticate? He is a man who thinks he can swim better than he can and sometimes he drowns.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Be brave, young lovers, and follow your star.
quote by Oscar Hammerstein II
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Robert E. Lee
The man was loved, the man was idolized,
The man had every just and noble gift.
He took great burdens and he bore them well,
Believed in God but did not preach too much,
Believed and followed duty first and last
With marvellous consistency and force,
Was a great victor, in defeat as great,
No more, no less, always himself in both,
Could make men die for him but saved his men
Whenever he could save them was most kind
But was not disobeyed was a good father,
A loving husband, a considerate friend.
poem by Stephen Vincent Benet
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!