Broadway Lyrics of Hope and Denial
I don't feel like I have much to say this week. The presidential election and the subsequent fear and pain that it has unleashed in the theatre community and beyond is still very raw and palpable. At a time when so much hope seems to be lost, I cannot help but hear the voices of strength that certain showtunes provide. Since the last thing any of you want to hear (or read) are my ravings about the outcome of this surreal and most disheartening election. Instead, just this once, let me simply share some lyrics of hope (and denial) that have been crossing my mind since Tuesday:
“Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone”
“You’ve got to learn how not to be where you are.
The more you face reality
The more you scar”
“Do you hear the people sing
Singing the song of angry men
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again.
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise”
“If you build your life on dreams
It’s prudent to recall
A man with moonlight in his hands
Has nothing there at all”
“The Sun will come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
They’ll be sun”
“It’s a day of peace
A day of pride
A day of justice
We’ve been denied
Where a man can live
And a child can pray
We’ll never get to heaven
Til we reach that day”
And finally...and I'm not suggesting anything here... but it crosses one's mind nevertheless
“Everybody’s got the right to some sunshine
Not the sun but maybe one of its beams.
Rich man, poor man, black or white.
Everybody gets a bite.
Everybody’s got the right
To their dreams”
God help... I mean, God bless America.
