I have posted before about a song from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. I really love this musical, and I love this song. Although we're not supposed to sympathize with the ugly stepsisters, just laugh at them, I find their question poignant. "Why can't a fellow ever once prefer a girl who's merely me?"
Of course it's not appealing to be jealous of Cinderella's "fluffy beauty," but really, what else is there to her? And don't we all feel like ugly stepsisters sometimes, wishing that someone would see something beautiful in us?
But yeah, these performers (Sarah Rudinoff and Nick Gamson) are hilarious, too.
You can find the lyrics after the video.
Why should a fellow want a girl like her:
a frail and fluffy beauty?
Why can't a fellow ever once prefer a solid girl like me?
She's a frothy little bubble with a flimsy kind of charm,
and with very little trouble I could break her little arm.
Oh, oh why would a fellow want a girl like her, so obviously unusual?
Why can't a fellow ever once prefer a usual girl like me?
Her cheeks are a pretty shade of pink,
but not any pinker than a rose's
Her skin may be delicate and soft,
but not any softer than a doe's is
Her neck is no whiter than a swan's
She's only as dainty as a daisy
She's only as graceful as a bird!
So why is the fellow going crazy?
Oh why would a fellow want a girl like her, a girl who's merely lovely?
Why can't a fellow ever once prefer a girl who's merely me?
She's a frothy little bubble with a frilly sort of air
And with very little trouble I could pull out all her hair!
Oh why would a fellow want a girl like her, a girl who's merely lovely,
Why can't a fellow ever once prefer a girl who's merely me?
What's the matter with the man, what's the matter with the man, what's the matter with the man?!!
The Poetry Friday roundup is here today.
4 hours ago
4 comments:
Just watched this with my 9-year-old, and it made us both giggle. Fun!
(I remember writing a version of this in our college creative writing class. Except in mine, the stepsisters dumped the punch bowl all over Cinderella.)
I remember when my daughter sang this in a musical theater class! The lyrics are fun. (Those dresses!!)
I've not seen this before, & the costumes are wonderful. Your point is true, & yet we continue to perpetuate the myth that Cinderella works so hard (good scrubber) & is so beautiful, she deserves more, even a prince. Good point, & poem, Ruth.
Hi, Ruth. We are HUGE musical theater fans at the Shovan house. Great post! Great song! And the costuming is amazing, adding another layer of crazy to those outrageous step-sisters.
I love the take on Cinderella from "Into the Woods" also.
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