A CHORUS LINE
complete lyrics - Edward Kleban


I HOPE I GET IT

ZACH

Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Again!

Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Again!

Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Again!

Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Right!

That connects with...

Turn, turn, out, in, jump, step,

Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch.

Got it?... Going on. And...

Turn, turn, touch, down, back, step,

Pivot, step, walk, walk, walk.

Right! Let's do the whole combination,

Facing away from the mirror.

From the top. A-Five, six, seven, eight!

ALL

God, I hope I get it.

I hope I get it.

How many people does he need?

BOYS

How many people does he need?

GIRLS

God, I hope I get it.

ALL

I hope I get it.

How many boys, how many girls?

GIRLS

How many boys, how many...?

ALL

Look at all the people!

At all the people.

How many people does he need?

How many boys, how many girls?

How many people does he...?

TRICIA

I really need this job.

Please God, I need this job.

I've got to get this job.

ALL

God, I really blew it!

I really blew it!

How could I do a thing like that?

BOYS

How could I do a thing like...

ALL

Now I'll never make it!

I'll never make it!

He doesn't like the way I look.

He doesn't like the way I dance.

He doesn't like the way I...

ALL

GOD, I think I've got it.

I think I've got it.

I knew he liked me all the time.

Still it isn't over.

MAGGIE

What's coming next?

ALL

It isn't over.

MIKE

What happens now?

ALL

I can't imagine what he wants.

GIRLS

I can't imagine what he...

ALL

God, I hope I get it!

I hope I get it.

I've come this far, but even so

It could be yes, it could be no,

How many people does he...?

I really need this job.

A FEW VOICES

My unemployment is gone.

ALL

Please, God, I need this job.

A FEW VOICES

I knew I had it from the start.

ALL

I've got to get this show.

PAUL

Who am I anyway?

Am I my resume?

That is a picture of a person I don't know.

What does he want from me?

What should I try to be?

So many faces all around, and here we go.

I need this job, oh God, I need this show.

I CAN DO THAT

MIKE

I'm watchin' Sis

Go pitterpat.

Said,

"I can do that,

I can do that."

Knew ev'ry step

Right off the bat.

Said,

"I can do that,

I can do that."

One morning Sis won't go to dance class

I grabbed her shoes and tights and all,

But my foot's too small,

So,

I stuff her shoes

With extra socks,

Run seven blocks

In nothin' flat.

Hell,

I can do that,

I can do that.

I got to class

And had it made,

And so I stayed

The rest of my life.

All thanks to Sis

(Now married and fat),

I can do this.

That I can do!

I can do that.

AT THE BALLET

SHEILA

Daddy always thought that he married beneath him.

That's what he said, that's what he said.

When he proposed he informed my mother

He was probably her very last chance.

And though she was twenty-two,

Though she was twenty-two,

Though she was twenty-two,

She married him.

Life with my dad wasn't ever a picnic

More like a "Come as you are."

When I was five I remember my mother

Dug earrings out of the car

I knew they weren't hers, But it wasn't

Something you'd want to discuss.

He wasn't warm.

Well, not to her.

Well, not to us

But

Everything was beautiful at the ballet.

Graceful men lift lovely girls in white.

Yes,

Everything was beautiful at ballet.

Hey!

I was happy... at the ballet.

That's why I started class...

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

SHEILA AND BEBE

To the voice like a metronome.

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

SHEILA

It wasn't paradise...

BEBE

It wasn't paradise...

SHEILA AND BEBE

It wasn't paradise...

SHEILA

But it was home.

BEBE

Mother always said I'd be very attractive

When I grew up, when I grew up.

"Diff'rent," she said, "With a special something

And a very, very personal flair."

And though I was eight or nine,

Though I was eight or nine,

Though I was eight or nine,

I hated her.

Now,

"Diff'rent" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty.

"Pretty" is what it's about.

I never met anyone who was "diff'rent"

Who couldn't figure that out.

So beautiful I'd never lived to see.

But it was clear,

If not to her,

Well, then... to me...

That ...

MAGGIE AND BEBE

Everyone is beautiful at the ballet.

Every prince has got to have his swan.

Yes,

Everyone is beautiful at the ballet.

MAGGIE

Hey!...

BEBE

I was pretty...

SHEILA

At the ballet

MAGGIE, SHEILA AND BEBE

Up a steep and very narrow stairway

To the voice like a metronome.

Up a steep and very narrow stairway

MAGGIE

It wasn't paradise...

BEBE

It wasn't paradise...

SHEILA

It wasn't paradise...

MAGGIE, SHEILA AND BEBE

But it was home.

MAGGIE(Spoken)

I don't know what they were for or against, really,

except each other. I mean I was born to save their marriage

but when my father came to pick my mother up at the hospital

he said, "Well, I thought this was going to help. but I guess it's not..." Anyway, I did have a fantastic fantasy life.

I used to dance around the living room with my arms up like this

My fantasy was that I was an Indian Chief...And he'd say to me,

"Maggie, do you wanna dance?" And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to dance!"

SHEILA AND MAGGIE

Doo-doo-doo-doo

BEBE

But it was clear...

BEBE AND MAGGIE

Doo-doo-doo

SHEILA

When he proposed...

SHEILA AND BEBE

Doo-doo-doo

MAGGIE

That I was born to help their marriage and when

MAGGIE AND BEBE

Doo-doo-doo-doo

SHEILA

That's what he said...

SHEILA AND MAGGIE

Doo-doo-doo

BEBE

That's what she said...

BEBE AND SHEILA

Doo-doo-doo

MAGGIE

I used to dance around the living room...

BEBE AND SHEILA

Doo-doo-doo-doo

SHEILA

He wasn't warm...

SHEILA AND MAGGIE

Doo-doo-doo

BEBE

Not to her...

MAGGIE

It was an Indian chief and he'd say:

"Maggie, do you wanna dance?"

And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to..."

Everything was beautiful at the ballet,

Raise your arms and someone's always there.

Yes, everything was beautiful at the ballet,

At the ballet,

At the ballet!!!

MAGGIE, SHEILA AND BEBE

Yes everything was beautiful at the ballet.

MAGGIE

HEY!...

BEBE

I was pretty...

SHEILA

I was happy...

MAGGIE

"I would love to..."

MAGGIE, SHEILA AND BEBE

At...the...ballet.

SING

KRISTINE

See I really couldn't sing

I could never really sing

AL

What I couldn't do was... ...Sing!

I have trouble with a... ...Note.

It goes all around my... ...Throat.

It's a terrifying... ...Thing.

See, I reall couldn't hear

Which not was lower or was... ...Higher

If someone says, "Let's start a... ...Choir.

Hey, when I begin to... ...Shreik.

It's a cross between a... ...Squeak.

And a quiver or a... ...Moan.

It's a little like a... ...Croak.

Or the record player... ...Broke.

What its doesn't have is... ...Tone.

Oh I know you're thinking

What a crazy... ...Dingaling.

But I really couldn't... ...Sing.

I could never really... ...Sing.

What I couldn't do was... ...Sing!

AL

Three blind mice.

KRISTINE(Off-Key)

Three blind mice.

(Spoken)

It isn't intentional...

AL(Spoken)

She's doing her best,

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

KRISTINE

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

(Spoken)

It really blows my mind

AL(Spoken)

She gets depressed

KRISTINE

But what I lack in pitch I sure AL Make up in... ...Power. And all my friends say I am

Perfect for the

Shower.

Still,

I'm terrific at a... ...Dance.

Guys are comin' in their... ...Pants.

I'm a birdie on the... ...Wing.

But when I begin to... ...Chirp.

They say, "who's the little... ...Twerp

...Goin' 'pong' instead of... ...Ping.

And when Christmas comes ans

All my friends go...

ALL

Caroling,

KRISTINE

It is so dishearten... ...-Ning.

It is so disquiet... ...-Ting.

It is so discourag... ...-Ging.

Darling, please stop answer... ...-Ring!

See, I really couldn't... ...Sing.

I could never really... ...Sing.

What I couldn't do was...

ALL(In parts with Al conducting)

Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do

Do, ti, la, sol, fa, mi, re, do

La

KRISTINE(Off Key)

La...

ALL

La

KRISTINE

La...

GIRLS

Sing, sing

Sing a sing a sing sing BOYS

Sing, sing Never sing a note.

Please never,

Sing, Sing Never sing a note,

Don't ever...

KRISTINE(Off key)

...Sing.

ALL

Sing!

MONTAGE

VAL

Hello twelve,

RICHIE

Hello thirteen,

MAGGIE

Hello Love.

AL

Changes, Oh!

BEBE

Down below.

DIANA

Up above.

VAL

Time to doubt,

MIKE

To break out'

RICHIE

It's a mess,

MAGGIE

It's a mess.

PAUL AND JUDY

Time to grow.

MAGGIE AND AL

Time to go

CONNIE, BOBBY AND RICHIE

Adolesce,

ALL

Adolesce.

Too young to take over,

Too old to ignore.

Al

Gee, I'm almost ready,

ALL

But...what...for?

There's a lot

I am not

Certain of.

Hellot twelve

Hello thirteen

Hello love.

ALL(except Connie)

Goodbye twelve

Goodbye thirteen

Hello love...

BEBE

Robert Goulet, Robert Goulet

My God, Robert Goulet!

All

...Oh!

Down below

Up above...

DON

Playing Doctor with Evelyn

ALL

La la la

RICHIE

I'll show you mine

ALL

La la

RICHIE

You show me yours

ALL

La la

KRISTINE

Seeing Daddy...naked!

ALL

Time to grow,

Time to go...

SHEILA

Surprise!

ALL

La la la

SHEILA

Mom and Dad were doing it.

BOBBY

I'm gonna be a movie star.

NOTHING

DIANA

I'm so excited because I'm gonna go to the High School of Performing Arts! I mean, I was dying to be a serious actress. Anyway, it's the first day acting class- and we're in the auditorium and the teacher, Mr. Karp... Oh, Mr. Karp... Anyway, he puts us up on the stage with our legs around each other, one in back of the other and he says: "Okay... we're going to do improvisations. Now, you're on a bobsled. It's snowing out. And it's cold...Okay...GO!"

Ev'ry day for a week we would try to

Feel the motion, feel the motion

Down the hill.

Ev'ry day for a week we would try to

Hear the wind rush, hear the wind rush,

Feel the chill.

And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

To see what I had inside.

Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

And I tried, I tried.

(Spoken)

And everybody's goin' "Whooooosh, whooooosh ...

I feel the snow... I feel the cold... I feel the air."

And Mr. Karp turns to me and he says, "Okay, Morales. What did you feel?"

(sings)

And I said..."Nothing,

I'm feeling nothing,"

And he says "Nothing

Could get a girl transferred."

They all felt something,

But I felt nothing

Except the feeling

That this bullshit was absurd!

(Spoken)

But I said to myself, "Hey, it's only the first week. Maybe it's genetic. They don't have bobsleds in San Juan!"

(sings)

Second week, more advanced, and we had to

Be a table, be a sportscar...

Ice-cream cone.

Mister Karp, he would say,"Very good,

except Morales. Try, Morales,

All alone."

And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

To see how an ice cream felt.

Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

And I tried to melt.

The kids yelled, "Nothing!"

They called me "Nothing"

And Karp allowed it,

Which really makes me burn.

The were so helpful.

They called me "Hopeless",

Until I really didn't know

Where else to turn.

(Spoken)

And Karp kept saying,

"Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's High,

You'll never be an actress, Never!" Jesus Christ!

Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,

Send me guidance, send me guidance,"

On my knees.

Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,

Help me feel it, help me feel it.

Pretty please!"

And a voice from down at the bottom of my soul

Came up to the top of my head.

And the voice from down at the bottom of my soul,

Here is what it said:

"This man is nothing!

This course is nothing!

If you want something,

Go find another class.

And when you find one

You'll be an actress."

And I assure you that's what

Fin'lly came to pass.

Six months later I heard that Karp had died.

And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul...

And cried.

'Cause I felt... nothing.

MONTAGE

ALL

Goodbye twelve,

Goodbye thirteen,

Hello love.

MAGGIE

Why do I pay for all those lessons?

Dance for Gran'ma! Dance for Gran'ma!

BEB

My God, that Steve McQueen's reall sexy,

Bob Goulet out,

Steve McQueen in!

CASSIE

You cannot go to the movies

Until you finish your homework.

AL

Wash the car,

MIKE

Stop pickin' your nose.

MAGGIE

Oh, darling, you're not old enough to wear a bra.

You've got nothing to hold it up.

MARK

Locked in the bathroom with Peyton Place.

VAL

Tits! When am I gonna grow tits?

BOBBY

If Troy Donahue can ne a movie star,

Then I could be a movie star.

JUDY

But the thing that made my Daddy laugh so much

Was when I used to jump and dance around the living room...

MAGGIE

Please take this message

To Mother from me.

Carry it with you

Across the blue sea.

"Mother, oh, Mother,

Wherever I go

Your Maggie is missin' you so."

"Mother, oh, Mother,

Wherever I go

Your Maggie is missin' you so."

AL

Dad would take Mom to Roseland.

She'd come home with her shoes on her hand.

DIANA

Mama fat,

Always in the kitchen cooking all the time.

SHEILA

Darling, I can tell you now,

Your father went through life with an open fly.

VAL

Tits! Where are my tits?

CASSIE

Listen to your mother.

those stage and movie people got there

Because they're special.

GREG

You take after your father's side of the family,

The ugly side.

PAUL

Wait until your father gets home.

DON

Swear to God and hope to die.

CHORUS AL

Goodbye twelve Early to bed,

Goodbye thirteen Early to rise.

Hello La-a-a-ove. Your broad goes out

Other guys.

CASSIE

A diaphragm, a diaphragm.

I thought a diaphragm was up

Here,

Where you breathe.

DON

I bought a car.

I bought my first car.

MIKE(Spoken)

Padiddle.

CHORUS MARK

Changes, oh, Ev'ry girl I know has lockjaw of Down below. The legs.

Up a-...

CONNIE

You're not leaving this house

'Til you're

Twenty-one.

KRISTINE

The ugliest boy asked me to the

Prom,

I stayed home.

MAGGIE

Life is a ashtray.

VAL

Shit.

Made it through High School

Without

Growing tits.

CHORUS RICHIE

...Doubt, My trouble is wine, women, and

To break out Song.

It's a mess. I can't get any of 'em.

Time to grow, MIKE

Time to go, Your brother's going to

A-do... Medical School,

And you're dropping out to be a

Chorus boy.

Nothing!

BEBE

Steve McQueen out.

Nureyev in!

DIANA

You gotta know somebody to be

Somebody.

MAGGIE

Gra-du-a-tion!

SHEILA

All you run around with are

Bums.

AL

I got nancy's picture, Annabelle's

Locket,

Cynthia's ring and Lucy's pants.

Head-on collision!

Eddie got killed...

RICHIE

Let's dance, let's dance.

PAUL

What am I gonna say when he calls on me?

JUDY

My only adolescence, my only adolescence

My only adolescence.

JUDY AND KRISTINE

My only adolescence.

KRISTINE

My only adolescence...

DIANA AND BEBE

Where did it go? It was so...

Where did it go? It was so...

VAL, DIANA AND BEBE

Where did it go? It was so...

Where did it go? It was so...

GREG, BOBBY AND MIKE

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior,

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior.

SHEILA, MAGGIE AND DON

Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen,

Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen.

MARK, CONNIE, CASSIE, RICHIE, MAGGIE, JUDY, PAUL, LARRY AND AL

Suddenly I'm Seventeen and

ALL

Suddenly I'm Seventeen and...

Suddenly I'm Seventeen and...

Suddenly,

There's a lot

I am not

Certain of,

Goodbye twelve,

Goodbye thirteen,

Hello...

(Break into 4 groups and Scat counterpoint)

GIRLS

Doo,

Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo,

Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo,

Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo,

Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo, Dit dit doo,

GIRLS

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du dit,

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du dit,

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du dit,

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du dit,

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du dit,

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du dit,

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du dit,

Dee du dee du dee du, dee dee du.

BOYS

Wah, wah wah wah wah wah wah wah,

Wah, wah wah wah wah wah wah wah,

Wah, wah wah wah wah wah wah wah,

Wah, wah wah wah wah wah wah wah.

BOYS

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

Doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo ah,

RICHIE

Gimme the ball,

Gimme the ball,

Gimme the ball. Yeah!

Gimme the ball,

Gimme the ball,

Gimme the ball. Yeah!

I was always runnin' around shoutin',

"Gimme the ball,

Gimme the ball,

Gimme the ball. Yeah!"

I was so enthusiastic.

I was in to ev'rything.

The yearbook is filled wiht my pictures,

And I was lucky 'cause I got

A scholarship to college.

A scholarship to college!

ALL(Chorus plus offstage voices)

So he went.

RICHIE

Yes, I went.

ALL

Yes, he went.

RICHIE

So I'm gonna be this kindergarten teacher...

(spoken)

Imagine me- this kindergarten teacher? And I thought...

(Sings)

Shit.

ALL

Shit, Richie.

RICHIE

Shit.

ALL

Shit, Richie.

RICHIE ALL

What are you gonna be? Shit, Richie,Shit, Richie. When you get shoved Shit, Richie,Shit, Richie.

Outta here,

Honey, ain't nobody Shit, Richie, Shit, Richie.

Gonna be standin' there

With no scholarship to life. Shit, Richie, Shit, Richie.

RICHIE

And I was scared.

ALL

Shit, Richie.

RICHIE

Scared.

ALL

Shit, Richie.

RICHIE

Scared!!

ALL

Shit, Richie.

GIRLS(Chorus & all offstage voices 'til end)

My braces gone

BOYS

My pimples gone.

ALL

My childhood gone,

Goodbye

Goodbye twelve.

Goodbye thirteen.

Goodbye fourteen.

Goodbye fifteen.

Goodbye sixteen.

Goodbye seventeen.

Hello love.

Go to it.

Go to it.

Go to it.

Go to it.

Go to it.

Go to it.

BOYS

And now life really begins.

GIRLS

Go to it.

BOYS

And now life really begins.

GIRLS

Go to it.

BOYS

And now life really beigins.

GIRLS

Go to it.

BOYS

And now life really begins.

GIRLS

Go to it.

BOYS

Go to it.

DANCE: TEN; LOOKS: THREE

VAL

Dance: ten; Looks; three.

And I' still on unemployment,

Dancing for my own enjoyment.

That ain't it, kid. That ain't it, kid.

"Dance: ten; Looks; three,"

I like to die!

Left the theatre and

Called the doctor for

My appointment to buy...

Tits and ass.

Bought myself a fancy pair.

Tightened up the derriere.

Did the nose with it.

All that goes with it.

Tits and ass!

Had the bingo-bongos done.

Suddenly I'm getting nash'nal tours!

Tits and ass won't get you jobs

Unless they're yours.

Didn't cost a fortune neither.

Didn't hurt my sex life either.

Flat and sassy,

I would get the strays and losers.

Beggars really can't be choosers.

That ain't it, kid. That ain't it, kid.

Fised the chassis.

"How do you do!"

Life turned into and

Endless medley of

"Gee it had to be you!"

Why?

Tits and ass!

Where the cupboard once was bare

Now you knock and someone's there.

You have got 'em, hey.

Top to bottom, hey.

It's a gas!

Just a dash of silicone.

Shake your new maracas and you fine!

Tits and ass can change your life.

They sure changed mine.

Have it all done.

Honey, take my word.

Grab a cab, c'mon.

See the wizard on

Park and Seventy-Third

For

Tits and ass.

Orchestra or balcony.

What they want is whatcha see.

Keep the best of you.

Do the rest of you.

Pits or class.

I have never seen it fail.

Debutante or chorus girl or wife.

Tits and ass,

Yes, tits and ass

Have changed...

My...

Life...!

THE MUSIC AND THE MIRROR

CASSIE

Give me somebody to dance for,

Give me somebody to show.

Let me wake up in the morning to find

I have somewhere exciting to go.

To have something that I can believe in.

To have something to be.

Use me... Choose me.

God, I'm a dancer,

A dancer dances!

Give me somebody to dance with.

Give me a place to fit in.

Help me return to the world of the living

By showing me how to begin.

Play the music.

Give me the chance to come through.

All I ever needed was the music, and the mirror,

And the chance to dance for you.

Give me a job and you instantly get me involved.

If you give me a job,

Then the rest of the crap will get solved.

Put me to work,

You would think that by now I'm allowed.

I'll do you proud.

Throw me a rope to grab on to.

Helpome to prove that I'm strong.

Give me the chance to look forward to sayin':

"Hey. listen, they're playing my song."

Play me the music.

Give me the chance to come through.

All I ever needed was the music, and the mirror,

And the chance to dance...

Play me the music,

Play me the music,

Play me the music.

Give me the chance to come through.

All I ever needed was the music, and the mirror,

And the chance to dance...

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