Show Synopsis:
This song cycle shows stories of different people in all different situations deciding things, taking control of their lives, and entering new stages of life.
Character:
Woman #2
Song Context:
In this scene, a woman reflects on her past relationships and her current marriage, and wondering if she made the right choice in choosing her husband.
Fun Facts:
1) This musical was Jason Robert Brown's first produced show in 1995.
2) Brown has described this musical as "a summation of the first 25 years of his life, and especially the first five years he spent in New York."
3) On the original cast recording of Songs For A New World, Jessica Molaskey, a well-known jazz singer and musical theatre actor, sings this song.
"I met a man without a dollar to his name
Who had no traits of any value but his smile.
I met a man who had no yearn or claim to fame
Who was content to let life pass him for a while,
And I was sure that all I ever wanted
Was a life like the movie stars led,
And he kissed me right here, and he said,
""I'll give you stars and the moon and a soul to guide you
And a promise I'll never go.
I'll give you hope to bring out all the life inside you
And the strength that will help you grow.
I'll give you truth and a future that's twenty times better
Than any Hollywood plot.""
And I thought, ""You know, I'd rather have a yacht.""
I met a man who lived his life out on the road,
Who left a wife and kids in Portland on a whim.
I met a man whose fire and passion always showed
Who asked if I could spare a week to ride with him,
But I was sure that all I ever wanted
Was a life that was scripted and planned
And he said, ""But you don't understand ?
""I'll give you stars and the moon and the open highway
And a river beneath your feet.
I'll give you day full of dreams if you travel my way
And a summer you can't repeat.
I'll give you nights full of passion and days of adventure.
No strings, just warm summer rain.""
And I thought, ""You know, I'd rather have champagne.""
I met a man who had a fortune in the bank
Who had retired at age thirty, set for life.
I met a man and didn't know which stars to thank,
And then he asked one day if I would be his wife.
And I looked up, and all I could think of
Was the life I had dreamt I would live
And I said to him, ""What will you give?""
""I'll give you cars and a townhouse in Turtle Bay
And a fur and a diamond ring
And we'll be married in Spain on my yacht today
And we'll honeymoon in Beijing
And you'll meet stars at the parties I throw at my villas
In Nice and Paris in June.""
And I thought, ""Okay.""
And I took a breath
And I got my yacht
And the years went by
And it never changed
And it never grew
And I never dreamed
And I woke one day
And I looked around
And I thought, ""My God --
I'll never have the moon."