TOM SAWYER aka A MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF MARK TWAIN'S TOM SAWYER
(Robert B. Sherman / Richard M. Sherman)


RIVER SONG
Charley Pride & Chorus


Chorus Singing:
Oh, a river's gonna flow
'Cross the land
'Cross the land
Oh, a river's gonna flow
To the sea
And a boy is gonna grow
To a man
To a man
Only once in his life
Is he free
Only one golden time
In his life
Is he free

Charley Pride:
River runs warm in the summer sun
River runs cold when the summer's done
But a boy's just a dreamer
By the riverside
'Cause the water's too fast
And the water's too wide

Then the world turns around,
And the boy grows tall
He hears the song
Of the river call
The river song sings,
"Travel on, Travel on"
You blink away a tear,
And the boy is gone

Charley Pride & Chorus:
Oh, a river's gonna flow
'Cross the land
'Cross the land
Oh, a river's gonna flow
To the sea
And a boy's gonna grow
To a man
To a man
Only once in his life
Is he free
Only one golden time
In his life
Is he free


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - April 2004)


*****


TOM SAWYER
Celeste Holm (Aunt Polly, Joshua Hill Lewis (Cousin Sidney), Susan Joyce (Cousin Mary)


Polly:
Uncouth, irreverent, wild,
That irresponsible child
I try to teach him,
But who can reach him?
He never can be found,
Leaves his trash around
Just won't learn
And he just keeps turnin' away

Tom Sawyer
The devil's got him in tow
Tom Sawyer
He's grief and worry and woe
He's late for supper
And he's late for school
He's takin' me for a fool
I'll bet Tom Sawyer'll
Be the death of me yet

Sidney:
Tome goes out with Huck,
Swimmin' in the nude
Tom tears all his clothes
And he talks so crude
Hides dead snakes and things
Underneath the stairs
And in Sunday school
Never knows this prayers

Mary:
Tom's a good boy,
Tom is kind
Tom holds wonders in his mind
Tom's an orphan
Can't you see?
He needs our love and sympathy

(Mary and Sidney singing simultaneously)

Mary:
Tom has gumption
Tom is strong

Sidney:
Tom's so dishonest
Always tellin' lies
If he breaks his neck
It won't be no surprise

Mary:
He loves to play
And fish and swim

Sidney:
Tom can(`t find his head
Every other day

Mary:
You just wish you were like him

Sidney:
And when he's around,
I wish he'd go away

Polly:
(Sings alone)

Tom Sawyer
That Tom in turnin' me gray
Tarnation
He'll never learn to obey
I know that boy to me
Can be such a joy to me
If he'd only be good
But he's always
Wastin' his time away
Exasperatin' me every day
No ambition and no respect
He'll be the death of me yet

Polly:
(Talking)
Worms!
Oh, Tom Sawyer!

(Polly, Sidney and Mary singing simultaneously till end of song)

Polly:
Tom Sawyer
That irresponsible child
That Tom, Tom Sawyer
Uncouth, irreverent, wild
That Tom
He's late for supper
And late for school
And he's takin' me for a fool
He just won't learn
And he keeps on turnin'
I'll bet Tom Sawyer'll
Be the death of me
I'll bet Tom Sawyer'll
Be the death of me yet!

Sidney:
Tome goes out with Huck,
Swimmin' in the nude
Tom tears all his clothes
And he talks so crude
Hides dead snakes and things
Underneath the stairs
And in Sunday school
Never knows this prayers
Tom's so dishonest
Always tellin' lies
If he breaks his neck
It won't be no surprise
Tom can`t find his head
Every other day
And when he's around,
I wish he'd go away

Mary:
Tom's a good boy,
Tom is kind
Tom holds wonders in his mind
Tom's an orphan
Can't you see?
He needs our love and sympathy
Tom has gumption
Tom is strong
He loves to play
And fish and swim
You just wish you were like him


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - April 2004)


*****


GRATIFACTION
Johnny Whitaker (Tom Sawyer) & Boys Chorus


Boys Chorus:
You call this work?
Well, ain't that funny
We ain't doin' this for money
Heck, it's just a regular
Privilege to be occupied
It's a source of pride
Anyone can swim and fish on a Saturday
Anyone can just lay down
Layin' in a hammock,
Layin' in the grass
Like a lazy, no-good hound

Tom:
They just know that I'm softhearted
I was barely getting' started
Now I'm givin' all of my fun away
They keep beggin' me
And I'm generous

I mean, when's the last time
You could slosh a bucket
Full of wash on a mile of fence?
Look at them smilin'
And havin' a time
And all at my expense

Boys Chorus:
And you get that deep down inside gratifaction
Gratifyin' satisfac—
Well, I mean that deep-down inside gratifaction
Oh, how good you feel
When your shoulder's to the wheel

You don't need nothin' except ambition
Elbow grease for ammunition
And bang, what a righteous glow you get
From honest sweat,
It's a natural bet

Anyone who puts his
Nose to the grindstone
Is gonna get a great reward
Your eyes will see the glory of
The coming of the Lord

And you get that deep-down inside gratifaction
Pure enjoyment from employ—
Well, I mean that deep-down inside gratifaction
Oh, how good you feel
When your shoulder's to the wheel

You don't need nothin' except ambition
Elbow grease for ammunition
And bang, what a righteous glow you get
From honest sweat,
It's a natural bet

Anyone who puts his
Nose to the grindstone
Is gonna get a great reward
Your eyes will see the glory of
The coming of the Lord

And you get that deep-down inside gratifaction
And you get that deep down inside gratifaction
Gratifyin' satisfac—
Well, I mean that deep-down inside gratifaction
Oh, how good you feel
When your shoulder's to the wheel


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - April 2004)


*****


A MAN'S GOTTA BE (WHAT HE'S BORN TO BE)
Warren Oates (Muff Potter), Johnny Whitaker (Tom Sawyer), Jeff East (Huckleberry Finn)


Muff:
Take a look at the folks you've knowed
Young or growed
Some keep trivin'
And some keep strivin' in vain
It's a matter of destiny
Who you'll be
The judge or the preacher
Or pitiful creature
They's hangin' from a tree

Whoa, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
So just sit back and wait
Be it soon or late,
He'll be small or great
Yeah, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
Just sit back and wait
Soon or late,
Small or great
There ain't no fightin' fate

Doesn't matter what you may try
By and by
Some get lucky,
And some get stuck in the mud
That's the way the ol' world behaves
Why make waves?
Sooner or later,
Just as a potater
We're planted in our graves

Whoa, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
So just sit back and wait
Be it soon or late,
He'll be small or great
Yeah, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
So just sit back and wait
Soon or late,
Small or great
There ain't no fightin' fate

Where's the future
In plans and schemes
When it seems
That ol' grim reaper
Will soon, be a-leapin' on you?
When it's over,
You'll know you're bound
To be found
Wearin' your Sunday clothes,
Sleepin' in sweet repose
Six feet under ground

Muff and Tom:
Whoa, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
So just sit back and wait
Be it soon or late,
He'll be small or great
Yeah, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
Just sit back and wait
Soon or late,
Small or great
There ain't no fightin' fate
No, Sir, there ain't no fightin' fate

Muff, Tom and Huck:

Whoa, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
So just sit back and wait
Be it soon or late,
He'll be small or great
Yeah, a man's gotta be
What he's born to be
Just sit back and wait
Soon or late,
Small or great
There ain't no fightin' fate
No, Sir, there ain't no fightin' fate!


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - April 2004)


*****


HOW COME ?
Johnny Whitaker (Tom Sawyer)


How come
I hear the sun
Laughin'
Up in the skies?

How come
I see the grass
Growin'
Before my eyes?

Crazy
What's happenin'?
Feel like
I'm ten feet high
Nothin'
Is impossible

If I try
I could fly
Wonderin'
What's just begun
Tinglin'
Yet sorta numb

How come?
How come?
How come?


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - April 2004)


*****


IF'N I WAS GOD

Johnny Whitaker (Tom Sawyer)
Also recorded by : Colorado Children's; Bobby Goldsboro; Michael Jackson.


If'n I was God
Well, just for spite
I wouldn't set the sun at night
Till everyone was treated right
By everyone else they see

If'n I was God
I'd fix it so without explainin'
Folks would know ,
They'd know what's goin' on inside
Of everyone else like me

Nobody'd hurt nobody else
I wouldn't let it be
Nobody'd have a need to pray
Except, for thankin' me

If'n I was God
I'd make us wise
So's everyone could realize
That everywhere beneath the sun
Everyone needs everyone
And, God, that ain't half what
I would do


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - 2004)


*****


FREEBOOTIN'
Johnny Whitaker (Tom Sawyer) & Jeff East (Huckleberry Finn)


Tom and Huck:
Freebootin',
Freebootin'
Kickin' up our feet in the sand
Freebootin',
Freebootin'
Livin' off the fat of the land

Got no doors to shut us in
We got no ties that bind
Rollin' down the road to sin
Without no never mind

Huck:
Like a big fat cow
A-chewin' on her cud

Tom:
Like a cat fish grubbin'
In the bottom of the mud

Huck:
We're happy as a coot,
And we don't give a hoot

Tom and Huck:
Ain't we fine?

Freebootin',
Freebootin'
Kickin' up our feet in the sand
Freebootin',
Freebootin'
Livin' off the fat of the land

Nobody's tellin' us when to rise
Or when to sleep or eat
Nobody's here to criticize
Or whack us on the seat

Like a hog in the slime,
We're wallerin' our time
Doin' what we're doin',
And it ain't no crime
We don't give a dang
Let the world go hang
Ain't life sweet?
Freebootin',
Freebootin'
Kickin' up our feet in the sand
Freebootin',
Freebootin'
Livin' off the fat of the land

We're thick as thieves
And tough as mules
We don't know wrong from right
Got no bounds,
Got no rules
We don't know day from night

We got no worries,
We just don't care
Mean as a buzzard
And hungry as a bear
Better steer clear,
And you better beware
We may bite!


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - April 2004)


*****


AUNT POLLY'S SOLILOQUY
Celeste Holm (Aunt Polly)


Tom Sawyer
That irresponsible child
Tom goes off with Huck
Swimmin' in the nude

Tom hold wonders in his mind
But he just won't learn
And he just keep turnin' away

Tom Sawyer
The devil's got him in tow
Raises Cain in school
If he'll ever go
Though he tries my poor heart so
Oh, Lord, please spare him
And, Lord, take care of
My Tom


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - April 2004)


*****


HANNIBAL, MO ... SOURI !

Sung by Full Cast and Picnickers


Load up the vittles, pickles, and hams
Melons, and cherry pie
Fritters and dumplin's,
Turkeys and yams
Pack in a big supply
Apples and peaches,
Soda to sip
Cider is gonna flow
With a hey and a ho
And away we go
On a holiday in Hannibal, Mo…
…souri!

Latch up the windows,
Lock up the doors
Gotta get on the go
Line up the buggies,
Wagons, and rigs
Meet all the folks you know
You bring the fiddle
You bring the drum
You bring the old banjo
And a hey and a ho
And away we'll go
On a holiday in Hannibal, Mo…
…souri!

Lady:
Who brung the watermelons?

Man:
I done

Lady:
Put them in the buggy
By the box of red plums
Who brung the lemonade?

Lady: Ask her

Man:
It's here in the wagon
With the buttermilk churn
Where's Mary?

Man:
With Nellie

Boys:
Standin' guard on the jams and jelly

Boy:
Where's all the fireworks?

Boy:
Don't know

Kids:
But you're gonna see `em
All the way from here to St. Jo

All:
Better get ready
The time is right
We'll be gone all day
And half of the night
The road is rugged,
So hold on tight
No time for lollygaggin',
Everybody on the wagon

Driver:
Giddap!

All:
Get up the horses
Give `em the reigns
They know the way to go
Down by the river,
Over the ridge
Into the old meadow

Oh, what a feelin',
Oh, what a day
Bright as a daisy glow
With a hey and a ho
And away we go
On a holiday in Hannibal, Mo…
…souri!

[Orchestra plays as wagons, buggies, and rigs travel to picnic]

Oh, what a feelin',
Oh, what a day
Bright as a daisy glow
With a hey and a ho
And away we go
On a holiday in Hannibal, Mo…
…souri!

[Orchestra plays while games are being played at picnic]

[Night time has fallen, and the picnickers all sit around the fire
and sing softly]

Oh, what a feelin',
Oh, what a day
Bright as a daisy glow
With a hey and a ho
And away we go
On a holiday in Hannibal, Missouri


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - July 2004)


*****


RIVER SONG (Reprise)
Sung by Charley Pride and Chorus


Charley Pride:
And the world turns around
And the boy grows tall
He hears the song of the river call
The river song sings, "Travel on, travel on"
You blink away a tear,
And the boy is gone

Charley Pride and Chorus:
Oh, a river's gonna flow
`Cross the land
`Cross the land
Oh, a river's gonna flow
To the sea
And the boy is gonna grow
To a man
To a man
Only once in his life
Is he free
Only one golden time in his
Life is he free


(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - 2004)


*****


FINALE 

Instrumental by Orchestra


*****


EXIT MUSIC

Instrumental by Orchestra