As part of my ongoing effort to generate interest in my musical The Watcher on the Shore, I offer another song. This number embodies one major element of the musical’s sense of life, innocent romance. (Another is the adventure of the life of the mind.)
The scene is a rehearsal hall that Melville, a professor, has come upon on his way somewhere else. A singer, Helen, is practicing a song called “Strength in Numbers,” an experimental tune that I posted earlier; her pianist is Paul. Melville listens surreptitiously at the back of the room, then applauds at the end.
In the ensuing conversation, during which the laconic Paul takes a smoking break, Melville discovers that Helen used to be a student of his. The discussion eventually touches fleetingly on the subject of Melville’s spouse.
CLICK HERE to hear the music (headphones or good speakers urged!). There is a vocal on this recording, but it consists of a person humming; one must mentally fit the notes of the tune to the proposed lyric, which is given below in its dramatic context:
Paul returns and walks leisurely to the stage, smoking.
Melville. I should go.
Helen. No, rest a bit first. There’s some bright music next. [to Paul] Let’s skip “A Girl and a Boy” for now and do the Charleston bit. I’ll show you the steps I’ve settled on.
Paul nods and does a short intro, then the Charleston tune. She dances to this in classic Charleston style. When it is over, though, Paul segues into the intro for “A Girl and a Boy,” which takes her aback but then she goes along with it. [SINGS: A girl and a boy]
Walking—what a couple of kids are we,
Smiling sheepishly at the strangers—
Happy with the simplest joy
Of living, when A GIRL AND A BOY
Start giving love to everyone else they see.
I knew when I first saw your face that you were the one—
Oh, that you were the one for me.
Laughing with the simplest joy
Of living, when A GIRL AND A BOY
Start giving love to everyone else they see.
She notices that Melville has risen and is waving to her as he goes. She waves nervously back as she continues.
Happy with the simplest joy
Of living, when A GIRL AND A BOY
Start giving love to everyone else they see.
She goes straight into another song [SINGS: second ending of Strength in numbers], facing in the direction in which Melville left.
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