Blog #30--Musicals Offer Food For Thought

I grew up during the golden age of Broadway musicals. I lived far from Broadway, but many were made into movies. And their most popular music could be heard on numerous radio and television stations. Lyrics from some of these songs inspired me enough to include them in my book. Copyright laws prevent publication of lyrics without authorization, but I can at least encourage readers to look up the lyrics and contemplate their meanings.

Perhaps my introduction to musicals came from “The Wizard of Oz.” The song “Over the Rainbow,” authored by Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen, is still one of my favorites. The lyrics cannot be taken literally since a rainbow has no substance to it. But we all have a desire to go beyond our present level of awareness. “Over the Rainbow” reinforces our need to keep searching for the figurative pot of gold that is within every one of us.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II authored a number of outstanding musicals. “The Sound of Music” is my favorite, and I mentioned its theme song plus “I Have Confidence” and “Climb Every Mountain” in my book. I used lyrics from “Climb Every Mountain” as part of my vows when marrying my wife Mary Jane. The road to our fondest dreams can be a tortuous one. It requires love for fulfillment.

“Showboat” includes the inspiring song “Ol’ Man River,” which literally talks about the Mississippi river but symbolizes the eternal nature of time, which keeps marching on whether we want it to or not. No matter our lot in life, we must continue to put one foot in front of the other until our time on Earth is at an end. Hammerstein II composed these lyrics.

Hammerstein II also collaborated with Rodgers on “South Pacific.” Their controversial song “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught” was included despite attempts to censor it. Hatred is the theme, and it is described as being passed from adults to children. While tendencies toward negative judgments are likely inherited, they are reinforced by those who have come before. It can be a vicious cycle that continues indefinitely.

Leonard Bernstein and Steven Sondheim wrote the musical “West Side Story.” I love the song “Something’s Coming.” When we have a strongly positive event awaiting our immediate future, we feel it deeply. We don’t call it prophecy when it comes true, but our senses are tuning into a future already existing on some level. The male lead in the play sang this song prior to finding the love of his life. There are a number of other excellent songs, including “Somewhere,” which expresses the hope of a time and place where people of all races and cultures can fall in love without others judging them.

The animated Walt Disney musical “Pinocchio” includes the Ned Washington and Leigh Harline song “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Included in the lyrics is the concept of fate, which is said to help out when needed most. Actually, fate plays an extremely strong role in our lives, not just during unusual circumstances. Perhaps the fact the song is sung by an animated cricket eases the pain for those who resist the reality of fate in our lives.

Musicals are less common these days than in the 1950’s and 1960’s, but there have been a few excellent ones created over the years. The play “Godspell” by Stephen Schwartz and the movie “Fame” by Michael Gore are both loaded with beautiful music and powerful lyrics. I encourage readers to seek out the messages within all their songs. Gore’s “I Sing the Body Electric” is a tremendously profound vision of what we truly are.

Last but not least, I wish to mention the play “Man of La Mancha.” I never saw it, and I never read the Miguel De Cervantes book “Don Quixote” upon which the play is based. I only know what others say about Quixote, who decided to fight for a noble but hopeless cause. The song “Impossible Dream” describes a quest that reminds me of my desire to help people through the book I’ve written.

Like Quixote, I know my dream of awakening people to their true selves is a difficult if not impossible task. The human ego fights against its own best interests at times, and those who fear change most will find some of my book’s concepts in opposition to their cherished beliefs. I may seem to be tilting windmills as Quixote is described doing, but my goals are heart-felt. I truly hope the ideas I’ve shared in my book and blogs will aid the quest.

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