American - Composer | March 22, 1930 -
One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background. They fade on the page and live on the stage when set to music.
Stephen Sondheim
LiveMusicPoetryPageFadeStage
Everyone I used to play with has either given up or is dead.
PlayDeadEveryoneUpUsedEither
The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't work. A lot of people would disagree with me.
WorkPeopleMeOpinionStageSeen
Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew: integrally, with them.
BestWayOriginalRecordingCast
I played the organ when I went to military school, when I was 10. They had a huge organ, the second-largest pipe organ in New York State. I loved all the buttons and the gadgets. I've always been a gadget man.
ManSchoolNew YorkLovedNewBeen
I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.
MusicWritingBecauseLyricFell
I would have been a geologist.
BeenWouldGeologist
Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months when I didn't see my own father.
FatherMy OwnSeeDaysOwnMany
My mother wanted me off her hands. She was a working woman. She designed clothes, and she was a celebrity collector. It's my mother's ambition to be a celebrity.
MotherWomanMeAmbitionHandsShe
Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the language is too rich. You get drowned in it.
RichLanguageYouWhyPoorGet
I firmly believe lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to understand what's going on. Particularly in the theater, where you have costume, story, acting, orchestra.
BelieveChanceStoryYouActing
Gotta watch out for directors.
OutWatchDirectorsGotta
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