If I Were A Bell

If I Were A Bell

From: Guys And Dolls
By: Loesser
Voice Type(s): Alto,Mezzo,Belt

Melody
C
Full
F
Melody
F
Full
C

Show Synopsis:
Sergeant Sarah Brown is calling for sinners like the gamblers Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie to repent for their actions. Nathan Detroit, the gamblers' employer, needs $1000 to rent out a space a craps game and bets Sky Masterton that he cannot get Sarah to go to dinner with him. Nathan's long-time fiancee Adelaide is frustrated that he is still running a craps game and will not marry her yet. Sarah needs to get more sinners to come to Save-A-Soul meetings so that she does not have to close the branch. When Lieutenant Brannigan sees a bunch of gamblers waiting around for a game, the gamblers lie and say that they are throwing Nathan a suprise bachelor party. Nathan reluctantly asks Adelaide to elope with him, but realizes that Sky and Sarah are on a date because Sarah needs Sky to get sinners to go to her Save-A-Soul meetings and faints when he realizes he owes Sky $1000. Sky accidentally gets Sarah drunk for the first time, but she admits how much fun she's having and they declare their love for each other. When Sarah sees that Nathan has been holding a craps game in the same space where Save-A-Soul meets, she is convinced that Sky was lying about his feelings and just trying to get her away from the building. Nathan does not meet Adelaide for their elopement, and she sulks while he loses all his money. Sky gives Nathan $1000 and insists that Sarah refused to go on a date with him, then asks the gamblers to bet their souls in the next game, with the condition that if he wins, they will go to a Save-A-Soul meeting. He wins, and Adelaide does not believe Nathan when he tells her he's going to a prayer meeting, causing them to fight. The gamblers show repentence and religious fervor at the meeting, pleasing Lieutenant Brannigan, and Sarah realizes that Sky paid Nathan $1000 to protect her reputation. Adelaide and Sarah talk about how they want to marry their men today and make them better men tomorrow instead of waiting for them to change, and that is exactly what they do.

Character:
Sergeant Sarah Brown, a devout young woman who tries to spread the word of the Lord to sinners.

Song Context:
Sarah and Sky have had a wonderful night out, and Sarah has never gone dancing with a man or been drunk before. She is having a wonderful time and wants to share it with Sky and the rest of the world.	

Fun Facts:
1) This musical is based on short stories by Damon Runyon, primarily "The Idyll of Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure."
2) Kate Jennings Grant, who played the slightly renamed Sister Sarah Brown in the 2009 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls, described Sarah in a Playbill.com interview as "a woman of great faith and, unbeknownst to many others, great passion." 
3) Isabel Bigley originated the role of Sarah Brown and won a Tony Award for her performance.
    

"Ask me how do I feel,
Ask me now that we're cosy and clinging.
Well sir, all I can say, is if I were a bell I'd be ringing! 

From the moment we kissed tonight,
That's the way I've just gotta behave.
Boy, if I were a lamp I'd light 
And if I were a banner I'd wave! 

Ask me how do I feel, little me with my quiet upbringing.
Well sir, all I can say is if gate I'd be swinging! 
And if I were a watch I'd start popping my springs! 
Or if I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong ding! 

Ask me how do I feel from this chemistry lesson I'm learning. 
Well sir, all I can say is if I were a bridge I'd be burning! 

Yes, I knew my moral would crack 
From the wonderful way that you looked! 
Boy, if I were a duck I'd quack! 
Or if I were a goose I'd be cooked! 

Ask me how do I feel, ask me now that we're fondly caressing.
Well, if I were a salad I know I'd be splashing my dressing.
Ask me how to describe this whole beautiful thing.
Well, if I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong ding!"