SCROOGE (The Musical)
(Leslie Bricusse)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Sing a song of gladness and cheer
For the time of Christmas is here
Look around about you and see
What a world of wonder
This world can be
Sing a Christmas carol
Sing a Christmas carol
Sing a Christmas carol
Like the children do
And the joy and beauty
Oh, the joy and beauty
That a merry Christmas can bring to you!
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
I HATE PEOPLE
Scavengers and sycophants and flatterers
and fools
Pharisees and parasites and hypocrites
and ghouls
Calculating swindlers, prevaricating frauds
Perpetrating evil as they roam the earth
in hordes
Feeding on their fellow men
Reaping rich rewards
Contaminating everything they see
Corrupting honest me like me
Humbug! Poppycock! Balderdash! Bah!
I hate people! I hate people!
People are despicable creatures
Loathesome inexplicable creatures
Good-for-nothing kickable creatures
I hate people! I abhor them!
When I see the indolent classes
Sitting on their indolent asses
Gulping ale from indolent glasses
I hate people! I detest them! I deplore them!
Fools who have no money spend it
Get in debt then try to end it
Beg me on their knees befriend them
Knowing I have cash to lend them
Soft-hearted me! Hard-working me!
Clean-living, thrifty and kind as can be!
Situations like this are of interest to me
I hate people! I loathe people! I despise and abominate people!
Life is full of cretinous wretches
Earning what their sweatiness fetches
Empty minds whose pettiness stretches
Further than I can see
Little wonder I hate people
And I don't care if they hate me!
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
NO BETTER LIFE
(NOT AVAILABLE YET)
*****
CHRISTMAS CHILDREN
Christmas children peep into Christmas windows
See a world as pretty as a dream
Christmas trees and toys
Christmas hopes and joys
Christmas puddings rich with Christmas cream
Christmas presents shine in the Christmas windows
Christmas boxes tied with Christmas bows
Wonder what's inside
What delights they hide
But till Christmas morning no one knows
Won't it be exciting if it snows?
I suppose that children everywhere
Must say a Christmas prayer
Till Santa brings their Christmas things
Christmas children live in a Christmas daydream
Waiting for the magic to unfold
Wondrous things to eat
Every Christmas treat
Rich or not the Christmas pot of gold
Hypnotizes children young and old
Christmas children hunger for Christmas morning
Christmas day's a wonder to behold
Young ones' dreams come true
Not so young ones, too
I believe that story we've been told
Christmas is for children young and old
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
FATHER CHRISTMAS
From the movie "Scrooge"
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
He’s the meanest man in the whole wide world
In the whole wide world, you can feel it
He’s a miser
He’s a skinflint
He’s a stingy lout
Leave your stocking out
For your Christmas gift and he’ll steal it
It’s a shame
He’s a villain
What a game
For a villain to play on Christmas day
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Will be just as mean
As he’s ever been
And I’m here to say
We should all send Father Christmas
On his merry Christmas way
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
He’s the rottenest man in the universe
And there’s no one worse, you can tell it
He’s a rascal
He’s a bandit
He’s a crafty one
Leave your door undone
He’ll move in your house and sell it
It’s a crime
It’s a scandal
What a game
For a vandal to play on Christmas day
If you distrust
Father Christmas
It’s as well to know
That I told you so
‘Cause I’m here to say
We should all send Father Christmas
Father Christmas, Father Christmas
Father Christmas, Father Christmas
On his merry Christmas way
Reprise
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
He’s the greatest man in the whole wide world
In the whole wide world and he knows it
Every Christmas
Father Christmas
Puts a great big sack
On his dear old back
‘Cause he loves us all
And he shows it
And he goes for a sleighride
In the snow and he may ride all night
And that’s all right
In the morning
Christmas morning
If you lift your eyes
There’s a big surprise
Underneath the tree
It’s a gift from Father Christmas
From Father Christmas
That’s how Christmas will appear
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
FATHER CHRISTMAS
From the musical "Scrooge"
(1992 Birmingham Cast)
Sung by the Urchins: Simone Barnes, Ciaran Brennan, James Brown,
Sharon Buchanan, Natalie Horton, John Wesley Lenegan, Paul Liburd,
Kate perkins, Leonie Prentice, Ian Salter, Tom Stevens, Thomas Wilkins.
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
He's the meanest man in the whole wide world
And in the whole wide world you can feel it
He's a miser
He's a skinflint
He's a stingy lot
Leave your stocking out for your Christmas gift
And he'll steal it
It's a shame
He's a villain
What a guy for a villain to play on Christmas day
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Who'll be just as mean as he's ever been
And I mean to say we should all send
Father Christmas on his Merry Christmas way
Father Christmas!
Father Christmas
He's the rottenest man in the universe
And there's no one worse, you can tell it
Hey, he's a rascal
He's a bandit
He's a crafty one
Leave a door undone
He'll go in your house and sell it
It's a crime
It's a scandal
What a guy for a vandal to play
On Christmas Day
If you distrust Father Christmas
It is well to know
That I told you so
Cause I mean to say
We should all send Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
On his merry Christmas way!
(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - July 2004)
*****
MAKE THE MOST OF THIS WORLD
(NOT AVAILABLE YET)
*****
IT'S NOT MY FAULT
(NOT AVAILABLE YET)
*****
DECEMBER THE 25TH
Of all the days in all the year
that I'm familiar with
There's only one that's really fun
December the 25th
Correct!
Ask anyone called Robinson
or Brown or Jones or Smith
Their favorite day
And they will say
December the 25
Correct!
(refrain)
December the 25th, me dears
December the 25th
The dearest day in all the year
December the 25th!
Correct!
At times we're glad to see the backs
of all our kin and kith
But there's one date we celebrate
December the 25th
Correct!
At times our friends may seem
devoid of wit and pith
But all of us are humorous
December the 25th
Correct!
(refrain)
If there's a day in history
that's more than any myth
Beyond a doubt one day stands out
December the 25th
Correct!
I don't hear any arguments
So may I say forthwith
I wish that every day could be
December the 25th
(refrain)
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
HAPPINESS
They say happiness
Is a thing you can't see
A thing you can't touch
I disagree
Happiness is standing beside
A can see him
He can see me
Happiness is whatever
You want it to be
Happiness is a high hill
Will I find it?
Yes, I will
Happiness is a tall tree
Can I climb it?
Watch, and see
They say happiness is
The folly of fools
Pity for me
One of the fools
Happiness is smiling upon me
Walking my way
Sharing my day
Happiness is whatever
You want it to be
Happiness is a bright star
Are we happy?
Yes, we are
Happiness is a clear sky
Give me wings
And let me fly
Let me fly
For, happiness
Is whatever you want it
To be
(Transcribed by Carlene Bogle - 2002)
*****
YOU ... YOU
You...you were new to me.
You...you were spring.
You...you were true to me.
You...you were everything.
You...you were good for me.
You were my day.
Did what you could for me.
I let you go away.
And now I can see.
Now you're a dream gone by.
Oh how could there be
Such a fool as I?
I who must travel on
What hope for me?
Dream where my past has gone.
Live with the memory.
You...my only hope
You ...my only love
You...you...you
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
I LIKE LIFE
The Ghost of Christmas Present (G) and Scrooge (S)
(all lines sung except where indicated)
(G says)
Ebenezer Scrooge, the sins of man are huge!
A never-ending symphony of villainy and infamy,
duplicity, deceit and subterfuge.
(G sings)
And no one's worse than Ebenezer Scrooge!
Though man's a handy candidate for Hell,
I must admit life sometimes has
its brighter side as well!
I like life! Life likes me!
Life and I fairly fully agree
Life is fine! Life is good!
'Specially mine which is just as it should be!
I like pouring the wine and why not?
Life's a pleasure that I deny not
I like life here and now
Life and I made a mutual vow
Till I die, life and I,
We'll both try to be better somehow
And if life were a woman she would be my wife
(S says) Why?
(G) Why? Because I like life!
(S says) That's all very well for you but not for me. I hate life.
(G says) Scrooge, you're an even bigger fool than I took you for!
Now you listen to me.
(G) I like life.
(G says) Well, go on!
(S) I like life
(G says) That's better!
(G) Life likes me
(S) Life likes me
(G says) Good! Good!
(G) I make life a perpetual spree
(S) Perpetual spree
(G) Eating food
(S) Drinking wine
Thinking who'd like the privilege to dine me
I like drinking the drink I'm drinking
(G says) That's better, Scrooge!
(G) I like thinking the thoughts I'm thinking
I like songs, I like dance
I hear music and I'm in a trance
(S) Tra la la!
(G) Oompapah!
(both) Chances are we shall get up and prance
(G) Where there's music and laughter happiness is rife
(S) Why?
(G) Why?Because I like life!
(both) Where there's music and laughter happiness is rife
Why? Because I like life
See how much we like life!
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
GOOD TIMES
(NOT AVAILABLE YET)
*****
THE MINISTER'S CAT
(NOT AVAILABLE YET)
*****
THE BEAUTIFUL DAY
Tiny Tim
On the beautiful day that I dream about
In a place I would like to be
Is a beautiful place where the sun comes out
And it shines in the sky for me
On this beautiful winter's morning
If my wish could come true somehow
Then the beautiful day that I dream about
Would be here and now.
On this beautiful winter's morning
If my wish could come true somehow
Then the beautiful day that I dream about
Would be here and now.
(Contributed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
On behalf of all the people who have assembled here
I would merely like to mention, if I may
That our unanimous attitude
Is one of lasting gratitude
For what our friend has done for us today
And therefore I would simply like to say :
Thank you very much
Thank you very much
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me
I may sound double Dutch
But my delight is such
I feel as if a losing war's been won for me
And if I had a flag, I'd hang me flag out
To let us all the final victory touch
But since I left me flag at home
I simply have to say :
Thank you very, very, very much
Thank you very, very, very much
Thank you very much
Thank you very much
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me
It sounds a bit bizarre
The things the way they are
I feel as if another life's begun for me
And if I had a canon I would fire it
To let us all see the grace of touch
But since I left me canon at home
I simply have to say :
Thank you very, very, very much
Thank you very, very, very much
For he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow
And so say all of us
Thank you very much
Thank you very much
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me
It isn't every day
Good fortune comes me way
I never thought the future would be fun for me
And if I had a bugle I would blow it
To add a sort o' how's your father's touch
But since I left me bugle at home
I simply have to say :
Thank you very, very, very much
Thank you very, very, very much
SPOKEN:
No, no, dear friends, it is I who should thank you
Thank you very much
Thank you very much
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me
The future looks alright
In fact it looks so bright
I feel as if they probably sing this song for me
And if I had a drum, I'd have to bang it
To add a sort o' rumpty tumpty touch
But since I left me drummer at home
I simply have to say :
Thank you very, very, very much
Thank you very, very, very much
(Transcribed by Insun Adriaansen & Mel Priddle – February 2003)
*****
THANK YOU VERY MUCH (with reprise)
Tom Jenkins
On behalf of all the people who have assembled here
I would merely like to mention if I may
That our unanimous attitude
Is one of lasting gratitude
For what our friend has done for us today
And therefore I would simply like to say
Thank you very much! Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever
done for me!
I may sound double Dutch
But my delight is such
I feel as if a losing war's been won for me
And if I had a flag I'd hang me flag out
To add a sort of final victory touch
But since I left me flag at home
I simply have to say
Thank you very very very much!
Thank you very very very much!
Thank you very much! Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever
done for me!
It sounds a bit bizarre
But things the way they are
I feel as if another life's begun for me
And if I had a cannon I would fire it
To add a sort of celebration touch
But since I left me cannon at home
I simply have to say
Thank you very very very much!
Thank you very very very much!
Chorus:
For he's a jolly good fellow!
For he's a jolly good fellow!
For he's a jolly good fellow!
And so say all of us!
Thank you very much! Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever
done for me!
It isn't every day
Good fortune comes me way
I never thought the future would be fun for me
And if I had a bugle I would blow it
To add a sort of how's-your-father touch
But since I left me bugle at home
I simply have to say
Thank you very very very much!
Thank you very very very much!
Scrooge (spoken):
No, no, dear friends, it is I who should thank you!
(sings):
Thank you very much! Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever
done for me!
The future looks so right
In fact, it looks so bright
I feel as if they're polishing the sun for me
And if I had a drum I'd have to bang it
To add a sort of rum-tee-tum-tee touch
But since I left me drummer at home
I simply have to say
Thank you very very very much
Thank you very very very much!
(reprise, Scrooge):
Thank you very much! Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me!
The future looks so right
In fact, it looks so bright
I feel as if they're polishing the sun for me
(chorus):
And if I had a bugle I would blow it
To add a sort of how's-your-father touch
But since I left me bugle at home
I simple have to say
Thank you very very very much!
Thank you very very very much!
Thank you very much! Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me!
I may sound double Dutch
But my delight is such
I feel as if a losing war's been won for me
And if I had a flag I'd hang me flag out
To add a sort of final victory touch
But since I left me flag at home
I simply have to say
Thank you very very very much!
Thank you very very very much!
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)
*****
I'LL BEGIN AGAIN
(Scrooge says)
I'm alive! I'm alive!
I've got a chance to change
and I will not be man I was
I'll begin again
I will build my life
I will live to know that I fulfilled my life
I'll begin today
Throw away the past
And the future I build
will be something that will last
I will take the time I have left to live
and I will give it all that I have left to give
I will live my days for my fellow men
And I live in praise of that moment when
(sings)
I was able to begin again
I will start anew
I will make amends
And I will make quite certain
that the story ends
On a note of hope
On a strong amen
And I will thank the world and remember when
I was able to begin again!
(Transcribed by Holly Tooker - December 2003)