Tin Pan Alley and Broadway

Key terms

Tin Pan Alley

Vaudeville

Song plugger

American popular song

Ballad

Verse-refrain

Broadway musical

Jerome Kern

Lyricist-librettist

George Gershwin (1898-1937), composerIra Gershwin (1896-1983), lyricist-librettist

1924 Lady, Be Good

1926 Oh, Kay!

1927 Funny Face

1930 Strike Up the Band

1931 Of Thee I Sing

1935 Porgy and Bess

George Gershwin (lyrics by Ira Gershwin) “The Man I Love” (1924) [originally from Lady, Be Good musical]

(verse-refrain [AABA] form)

E-fat major, 4/4

INTRODUCTION (4-bar piano prelude)

VERSE (2 eight-bar phrases)

When the mellow moon begins to beam, ev’ry night I dream a little dream, and of course Prince Charming is the theme, the he for me.

Although I realize as well as you, it is seldom that a dream comes true, to me it’s clear that he’ll appear.

REFRAIN (4 eight-bar phrases, AABA form, B in C Minor)

Someday he’ll come along, the man I love; and he’ll be big and strong, the man I love; and when he comes my way, I’ll do my best to make stay.

He’ll look at me and smile, I’ll understand; and in a little while he’ll take my hand and though it seems absurd, I know we both wont say a word.

Maybe I shall meet him Sunday, maybe Monday, maybe not; still I’m sure to meet him one day, maybe Tuesday will be my good news day.

He’ll build a little home, just meant for two, from which I’ll never roam, who would—would you?—and so all else above I’m waiting for the man I love.

Richard Rodgers (1902-79), composerOscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960), lyricist-librettist

musical collaborators, 1943-60

1943 Oklahoma!

1945 Carousel

1949 South Pacific

1951 The King and I

1958 Flower Drum Song

1959 The Sound of Music

Rodgers and Hammerstein, Oklahoma! (1943)Based on the 1930 Broadway play Green Grow the Lilacs, by Rollie Lynn Riggs

“I Can’t Say No!” (Sung by Ado Annie character)(modified verse-refrain form)

VERSE

It ain't so much a question of not knowin' whut to do, I knowed whut's right and wrong since I been ten.I heared a lot of stories and I reckon they are true, about how girls ‘re put upon by men.I know I mustn't fall into the pit--but when I'm with a feller I fergit!

REFRAIN

1. I'm jist a girl who cain't say no, I'm in a turrible fixI always say ‘come on, let's go,’ jist when I orta say ‘nix!'When a person tries to kiss a girl, I know she orta give his face a smack.But as soon as someone kisses me, I somehow sorta want a kiss him back!I'm just a fool when lights are low, I cain't be prissy and quaintI ain't the type that c’n faint, how c’n I be whut I ain't?I cain't say no! (to TRIO)

2. I’m jist a girl who cain’t say no, cain’t seem to say it at all.I hate to disserpoint a beau when he is payin’ a call.Fer a while I ack refined and cool, asettin’ on the velveteen setee‘Nen I think of thet o’ golden rule, and do fer him whut he would do for me!

I cain’t resist a Romeo, in a sombrero and chaps, Soon as I sit on their laps, Sump’n inside o’ me snaps!I cain’t say no!

TRIO

Whut you goin’ to do when a feller gits flirty and starts to talk purty, whut you goin’ to do?

S’posin ‘at he says ‘at yer lips ‘re like cherries, er roses er berries, whut you goin’ to do? S’posin ‘at he says ‘at yer sweeter ‘n cream and he’s gotta have cream or die?Whut you goin’ to do when he talks thet way? Spit in his eye? (to second REFRAIN)