"Our Time" In Musical Theatre Songs

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 3/26/24 at 10:54am

With Lempicka, Harmony, and Merrily -- that's three shows with very similar theming and lyrics. I swear there are more shows with similar numbers that I can't remember at the moment. I don't have the Lempicka lyrics, but... 

Harmony "This Is Our Time"

This is our time, Mary
This is our time
Bad times, so what else is new?
Where I grew up the people threw a pogrom every month or two
You wanna know what happiness is?
Trust me, that ain't it

But this is our time
Could it be a good time
I know, wouldn't that be strange?
Somehow, when I'm not reeling
I find myself feeling
That everything's ready to change
 

Merrily We Roll Along "Our Time"

Something is stirring
Shifting ground
It's just begun
Edges are blurring
All around
And yesterday is done

Feel the flow
Hear what's happening:
We're what's happening
Don't you know?
We're the movers and we're the shapers
We're the names in tomorrow's papers
Up to us, man, to show 'em

It's our time, breathe it in:
Worlds to change and worlds to win
Our turn coming through
Me and you, man
Me and you!

 

The lyrics et al are generic enough in their own rights, but the melodies are where I start to get curious. And don't get me started on finales about "Stars" lol

[KarenValentine'sheadband]

Posted: 3/26/24 at 3:23pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "With Lempicka, Harmony, and Merrily -- that's three shows with very similar theming and lyrics. I swear there are more shows with similar numbers that I can't remember at the moment. I don't have the Lempicka lyrics, but...

Harmony "This Is Our Time"

This is our time, Mary
This is our time
Bad times, so what else is new?
Where I grew up the people threw a pogrom every month or two
You wanna know what happiness is?
Trust me, that ain't it

But this is our time
Could it be a good time
I know, wouldn't that be strange?
Somehow, when I'm not reeling
I find myself feeling
That everything's ready to change


Merrily We Roll Along "Our Time"

Something is stirring
Shifting ground
It's just begun
Edges are blurring
All around
And yesterday is done

Feel the flow
Hear what's happening:
We're what's happening
Don't you know?
We're the movers and we're the shapers
We're the names in tomorrow's papers
Up to us, man, to show 'em

It's our time, breathe it in:
Worlds to change and worlds to win
Our turn coming through
Me and you, man
Me and you!



The lyrics et al are generic enough in their own rights, but the melodies are where I start to get curious. And don't get me started on finales about "Stars" lol"

 

Totally agree. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/26/24 at 3:34pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "With Lempicka, Harmony, and Merrily -- that's three shows with very similar theming and lyrics. I swear there are more shows with similar numbers that I can't remember at the moment. I don't have the Lempicka lyrics, but...

The lyrics et al are generic enough in their own rights, but the melodies are where I start to get curious. And don't get me started on finales about "Stars" lol"

 

If you think the lyrics of Our Time are "generic", then you're truly a hopeless cause...

[magicfingers]

Posted: 3/26/24 at 3:39pm

My personal preference is to steer clear of “our time” if you’re a musical theatre composer. The issue with using it in Lempicka is it comes very soon and we don’t really know who the OUR is in the song, yet. As of now it’s strangers on stage singing it and there is no emotional connection to who and why they’re singing it. Sondheim smartly used Our Time at the end of the show which resonates with tons of subtext.

 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 3/26/24 at 4:27pm

"Our Time" is strongest in context.

The optimism is heartbreaking. It's naive and makes the whole thing much bleaker.

That's why it's chilling.

[sng]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 1:27am

They sound familiar is maybe just maybe they all are inspired by Sondheim?? And Our Time, generic???