This Is the Start of Something...

The context: This is the opening number from Nothing Like Broadway!. There are only four characters around a tiny theater: Annabelle, a patron of the theater; Milo, the humble light booth guy; Bixby, a British spy helicoptering onto the roof to begin a mission; and Kishka, a lascivious Russian spy lurking at the back of the theater.

A little about the creation of the song: As is always the case with opening numbers, this is not the first iteration. I wanted to introduce all four characters, and give them each a physical location around the stage (though no one is actually on the stage for this song). I wanted it rhythmic and fun, and I wanted to have life be a metaphor for the theater (not the other way around). The idea for this version came from sitting in the audience of several new Broadway shows. Is this going to be a good show? Are the lyrics going to be good? Is there someone to care about in the show? Are the costumes going to be too matchy? And so on. (One lyric-nerd thing: I've always wanted to rhyme "angst" somehow, but have never been able to figure it out. Until now! "Feel a pang steeped in an angsty premonition all is lost" has "pang steep-" "angsty p-". Finally!)

This Is the Start of Something...
Music & Lyrics by David Rackoff

   ANNABELLE
IN THIS LIFE, AT THE HEART OF
IT, WE’RE PART OF
ONE BIG PLAY.
ALL WE KNOW, IT’S THE START OF--
BUT THE START OF--
WHO CAN SAY?
ARE THERE GOALS, GOALS TO SHOOT FOR,
GIVE A HOOT FOR
HERE AND NOW?
SOMEONE HUMBLE TO ROOT FOR,
FOR I’D ROOT FOR
HIM, AND HOW!
I HOPE THE HERO YEARNS LOTS,
AND THE ANTI-HERO LEARNS LOTS.
I HOPE THEY SPEAK PROFOUNDLY,
WITH THE SYNTAX SOUNDED SOUNDLY.
I’D LIKE A BIT MORE SET.
AND A PASSIONATE DUET.
OUR HOPES GET TURNED AND TOSSED,
AND YOU WONDER WHAT’S THE COST,
WHEN OUR HERO’S DOUBLE-CROSSED,
FEEL A PANG STEEPED IN AN ANGSTY PREMONITION ALL IS LOST!

THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

      ANNABELLE/MILO
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING…
BUT IS IT GOOD?

      ANNABELLE
DO THE NOTES KIND OF TEETER,
THEN THEY PETER
OUT TOO SOON?
DO THE WORDS FIT THE METER,
AND THE METER
FIT THE TUNE?
IS THE PACE SMOOTH AND FLOWING,
IS IT MOWING
DOWN YOUR EARS?
DOES THE VERSE KEEP ON GOING,
KEEP ON GOING
ON FOR YEARS?
I HOPE THE SONGS ARE CATCHY,
AND THE COSTUMES NOT TOO MATCHY.
I HOPE THE GAGS ARE RUNNING,
AND THE CONNOTATIONS CUNNING.
I’D LIKE A LITTLE FARCE;
PEOPLE FALLING ON THEIR ARSE.
A LYRIC THAT’S A LIST,
AND I HOPE I GET THE GIST,
AND THERE’S NOTHING THAT I’VE MISSED
WHEN I’M SPOTTING THAT THE PLOTTING TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TWIST!

THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

            BIXBY
      A MAN SUCH AS I, SOMEONE SO DEBONAIRE’LL
      COMPLETE ANY MISSION, YOU JUST SAY THE WORD!
      WHO’LL FACE DOWN A VILLAIN, NO BOTHER THE PERIL.
      MY CODE NAME IS DOUBLE OH SIX… AND A THIRD.
      THE MISSION I’M STARTING IS THRILLING. PERHAPS YOU’LL
      BE LUCKY TO GET A VICARIOUS THRILL!
      MY JOB IS TO SAFEGUARD THIS MINUSCULE CAPSULE.
      THE NAME OF MY MISSION IS “VIEW TO A PILL”.
      YOU PONDER, PERCHANCE WHY I HANG FROM A COPTER.
      THOUGH DAMN IF I DON’T DO IT, STILL LOOKING CHIC.
      A RIVAL’S PURSUING ME. TIME THAT I STOPPED HER.
      I’LL HIDE OUT BELOW IN THAT THEATRE THERE. EEEEEK!

      ANNABELLE
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

      ANNABELLE/BIXBY
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

            MILO
         IF I COULD LEAVE THE TECH BOOTH,
         THING IS, I’M NOT ALLOWED.
         UNDER THE GLOWING SPOTLIGHT.
         FRONT OF THE MADDING CROWD.
         MAYBE I’LL FIGHT SOME BAD GUYS.
         THEN, I’D BE SORT OF PROUD!

         KISHKA
   YOU BOURGEOISIE RABBLE MAY THINK I’M JUST CHILLIN’,
   BUT NOTHING ESCAPES FROM MY DEVIOUS EYES.
   DON’T SAY THAT I’M VILE; A LASCIVIOUS VILLAIN.
   HOW DARE YOU! I’LL THROTTLE YOUR THROAT WITH MY THIGHS.
   SO TURN ‘ROUND YOUR FACES. YES, YOU, MA’AM, STOP LOOKING.
   I’M NORMAL AMERICAN LADY AT WORK.
   I DON’T COME TO YOUR JOB AND TELL YOU, “STOP HOOKING”.
   SO LEAVE ME ALONE IN THE DARK WHILE I LURK.

ANNABELLE
DO THE NOTES KIND OF TEETER,
THEN THEY PETER
OUT TOO SOON?
DO THE WORDS FIT THE METER,
AND THE METER
FIT THE TUNE?
IS THE PACE SMOOTH AND FLOWING,
IS IT MOWING
DOWN YOUR EARS?
DOES THE VERSE KEEP ON GOING,
KEEP ON GOING
ON FOR YEARS?
I HOPE THE SONGS ARE CATCHY,
AND THE COSTUMES NOT TOO MATCHY.
I HOPE THE GAGS ARE RUNNING,
AND THE CONNOTATIONS CUNNING.
I’D LIKE A LITTLE FARCE;
PEOPLE FALLING ON THEIR

MILO

IF I COULD LEAVE THE TECH BOOTH,

THING IS, I’M NOT ALLOWED.

UNDER THE GLOWING SPOTLIGHT.

FRONT OF THE MADDING CROWD.

MAYBE I’LL FIGHT SOME BAD GUYS.

THEN, I’D BE SORT OF PROUD!

      MILO
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

      ANNABELLE/MILO
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

      ANNABELLE/MILO/BIXBY
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

                     MILO
            IF I COULD LEAVE…

                     ANNABELLE
               THE THEATER…

                     KISHKA
               THE SHADOWS…

                     BIXBY
               THE ROOFTOP…

                     MILO
               THE TECH BOOTH…

      ANNABELLE/BIXBY
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

      ANNABELLE/BIXBY/MILO
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.

      KISHKA
THIS IS START, START OF SOMETHING!

      ALL
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE START, THE START…!

      ANNABELLE
BUT IS IT…

      ALL
GOOD?!

(For another random link, click here.)

This Is The Start of Something...