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General Discussion

PJMcK

(24,015 posts)

23. Sondheim wrote the song very quickly

Reply to Glorfindel (Reply #2)

Sun Jul 27, 2025, 01:52 PM

Jul 27

The musical, A Little Night Music, was in try-out in Boston and there was a dramatic problem late in the second act. This is not an uncommon problem in the development of musicals.

Sondheim wrote most of the song in one night and finished it the next day. It has become a standard in the American Songbook and it has been recorded hundreds of times and performed millions of times. He, and now his estate, receives royalties from every distribution stream. Not bad for a song he wrote in two days!

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Highlight:

The Clowns Are Already Here [View all] MineralMan Jul 27 OP

👍 underpants Jul 27 #1

Hat tip to Stephen Sondheim... Glorfindel Jul 27 #2

Yes. One of the saddest songs from a musical. MineralMan Jul 27 #3

Beautiful. Disaffected Jul 27 #6

YW Glorfindel Jul 27 #8

I love that song. Great poetry in the lyrics and the tune is beautiful Walleye Jul 27 #9

You beat me to it. A wonderful singer. Ping Tung Jul 27 #11

I thought of the same song. Beacool Jul 27 #18

Sondheim wrote the song very quickly PJMcK Jul 27 #23

;-{) Goonch Jul 27 #4

Wow! MineralMan Jul 27 #5

He's Pennywise, Stephen King's sewer clown. Ocelot II Jul 27 #7

So good with kids... hay rick Jul 27 #14

If only they could be funny once in a while. Like when they say they are "joking". Never funny. Walleye Jul 27 #10

Clowns on the surface. BUT KentuckyWoman Jul 27 #12

We have a cabinet full of James Bond villains, each more horrifying than the next. Initech Jul 27 #13

Hilarious Coolgoober Jul 27 #15

AMEN! LoisB Jul 27 #16

What about the people Keepthesoulalive Jul 27 #17

Well, that's a very good question. MineralMan Jul 27 #21

I believe Americans are very Keepthesoulalive Jul 27 #24

Yes. That's true, for sure. MineralMan Jul 27 #25

Shakespeare said it better Warpy Jul 27 #19

That says it well, too. MineralMan Jul 27 #22

Spot on! Katinfl Jul 27 #20

Here's a poem I posted in the Poetry subforum a few weeks ago...for your entertainment on this subject. The Madcap Jul 27 #26

The Garbage Clown Blue Owl Jul 27 #27

Good post! Wild blueberry Jul 28 #28

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