This song popped into my head first thing this morning. Granted, it's a bit too blithe for where we are now, but its heart is in the right place. Every time we have a Zoom call with friends or family, or meditate or walk or eat or talk or drink with loved ones in person or online, this feeling Jerry Herman captured in 1966 rings true: carpe today:
Angela Lansbury. Way before Murder, She Wrote.
Though it may not be anyone's birthday,
And though it's far from the first of the year,
I know that this very minute has history in it, we're here!
I did Mame in high school. I played Gooch, the frumpy, anxious babysitter. I had the opening song, the little one before this real opening number. The fabulous Ann Hampton Callaway (fabulous even back then, at New Trier High School) sang this song.
A pretty amazing cast for high school - many went on to careers in theatre. New Trier previously turned out Charlton Heston, Rock Hudson and Ann Margaret. Kathy Jaeck Hall, Chicago’s go-to actress, played Vera. Cabaret stand-out Jeff Harnar was in it, too. Ann's sister, Broadway star Liz Callaway, was too young.
The inimitable Seth Rudestsky analyzes the song in the fascinating, musical theatre-obsessed way only he can.
Sing along!
Light the candles,
Get the ice out,
Roll the rug up,
It's today!
It's a time for making merry,
And so I'm for making hay!
Tune the grand up,
Dance your shoes off,
Strike the band up,
It's today!
And we're living In the world, gang
So this whole game's
What we make!
Call the cops out,
Raise the rockets,
Pull the stops out,
Pull out the stops,
It's today Light the candles,
Fill the punch bowl,
Throw confetti,
It's today!
Life can also be lived on a weekday,
So don't depend on a holiday date,
If you need New Year's to bubble,
Then order a double and wait.
There's a "thank you" you can give life,
If you live life all the way.
Pull the stops out,
Hold the roof down,
Fellows watch out,
It's today!
It's a time for making merry,
And so I'm for making hay.
Tune the grand up,
Call the cops out,
Strike the band up,
Pull the stops out,
Hallelujah! It's today!