Songs for an Impossible Musical #11
The show approaches its end; the heroine is in despair, but must summon all her courage to sing a big ballad of hope and inspiration. Traditionally in a musical, this is called:
The Eleven o'Clock Number
It's eleven o'clock And the world's at its worst Life's gone wrong. So this is the moment When I know that I must burst Into glorious tumultuous song. It's eleven fifteen And the worst is getting worse All the while, So don't display amazement But I must belt out this verse With a huge and courageous smile. For the musical's conventions All require that I should sing With a trust in the future And the love that it'll bring. For though people may be callous And their motives may be dirty Still I sing out with a smile, Though it's now eleven thirty It's eleven forty-five And I really have no choice I can't cope. But I'm in a musical So I'll belt it out full voice That I have feelgood fabulous hope. And though the midnight hour approaches I'm sure all will turn out well, And I shall never walk alone and Things are gonna come up roses and
Oh hell. It's happened.
George Simmers
If you've any reflections, criticisms or comments, George Simmers would be pleased to hear from you.