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Catalog | Cast Recording | My Life With Albertine | Lyrics

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Album Release Date:
 October 7, 2003


what the critics are saying
 


“The music swirls with regret, romance and a sense of lost time.”
–The New York Times


“Exquisite. Gordon's contemplative score often recalls salon music of the 1920s. Piano notes fall like teardrops. Throbbing cello and violin lines suggest quickening of breath. A sensual 'Sometimes' and a yearning 'But What I Say' are highlights among the 16 songs and extensive underscoring given dark, gleaming orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin.”
–Newark Star-Ledger


“The melodies stick with you long afterwards...two unmistakable gems in 'Talk About the Weather' and Ms. O'Hara's wistful finale, 'If It Is True.'”
–New York Sun


My Life with Albertine
World Premiere Recording


ACT I


"Is it Too Late?"

Albertine
Is it too late for me to return to you?
Would you be prepared to take me back?

Whatever you decide, whatever you decide,
I shall abide by your decision.

If you know now, I beg,
Please, don't make me wait.
The ink from your pen will seal my fate.

Whatever you decide, whatever you decide,
Whatever you decide,
I shall abide by your decision.

Impatiently waiting. Insatiably longing.
I shall board the train at once
If you say to me, "return."
Oh, I burn to know. I yearn to know.


My whole heart is aching.
My whole heart is yours.
Your Albertine.
Your Albertine.
Your Albertine.




"Balbec-by-the-Sea"

Strollers
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Happy as can be
At Balbec-by-the-Sea.


Bathers
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Happiest are we
At Balbec-by-the-Sea.


A Stroller
Long drawn-out whistles
On a warm summer's eve,
The pleasure boats approaching


Strollers
Balbec-by-the-Sea


Narrator & Chorus
Purple light beneath a curtain,
Blue-green undulating sea,
Outside concert serenading,
Balbec-by-the-Sea.


Bathers
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Happiest are we
At Balbec-by-the-Sea.


Bathers & Strollers
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Happy as can be
At Balbec-by-the-Sea.


Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea


Marcel
Every morning I would be
Impatient to wake up and see
Which sea would be playing
Just for me!


All
At Balbec-by-the-Sea.
Balbec-by-the-Sea.


Narrator
Balbec-by-the-


Marcel & Narrator
Balbec-by-the-


Strollers
Balbec-by-the-


Bathers
Balbec-by-the-


All
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea.


Marcel
On my Grandma's knee!


All
At Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by the-Sea


Marcel & Narrator
Every morning I would be
Impatient to wake up and see


All
Which sea would be playing


Marcel & Narrator
Just for me!


All
At Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-Sea
Balbec-by-the-
Balbec-by-the-
Balbec-by-the-Sea!!!




"Lullaby"

Grandmother
Dream, dream
Do not think why.
Lullaby, my child,
Lullaby.


Dream, dream
Do not think why.
Lullaby, my child,
Lullaby.


Lullaby, in the garden
Where dream flowers grow.
Lullaby, my child,
Of a world we'll never know.


Dream, dream
In pastures lie.
Lullaby, my child,
Lullaby.


Sleep, sleep
Soft clouds drift by.
Lullaby, my child,
Lullaby.


Lullaby, in the city
Where dream shadows sigh.
Lullaby, sweet child,
Of my love that never dies.


I'll watch you till the sunrise.


Close your eyes.
Close your eyes.





"Ferret Song"

Albertine, Andree, & Rosemonde
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
He just ran by.
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
He passed by me.


Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood


Albertine
Whom will I marry?


Girls
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood


Albertine
Whom will I love?


Girls
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Now come to me.
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Take him my glove.


Sweet ladies and gents
Diddle and diddle
Sweet ladies and gents
Diddle-i-do.


Albertine
Marry I will


Girls
Diddle and diddle

Albertine
Just tell me who


Girls
Diddle-i-do.


Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Where could he be?
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Where has he gone?


Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood


Albertine
Will I have children?


Girls
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood


Albertine
Or will I have none?


Girls and Marcel
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Where could he be?
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Where has he gone?


Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Will I have children?
Oh Ferret of Fairy Wood
Or will I have none?




"My Soul Weeps"

Albertine
My soul weeps like rain
Upon the steaming rooftops of the town.
Why this piercing pain
Each time a drop hits ground?


My soul weeps like rain,
And as it falls I hear it start to sing
A sad and mournful song
That is empty of everything.


My soul weeps like rain
Upon the verdant fields so far below.
I hate my heart! It disgusts me.
Why do I hurt so?


My soul weeps like rain,
A heavy downpour from the clouds above.
I weep without reason
Without any hate, or any love.




"Talk About the Weather"

Marcel
Talk about the weather?
In Paris?
In Balbec?
In Combray?
Talk about which party
They could be attending today?


Françoise
A change in the weather
Is all that it takes
To begin again.


Marcel
Talk about this painter, that writer,
The gossip, the hearsay,
Talk of which drawing room
They could languish long in today?


Françoise
A change in the weather
Is all that it takes
To begin again.


I think about the weather
Outside the window today.


Marcel
The fog that I watch
Slowly burn away.


Françoise
I think about the light
Inside the room today.


Marcel
Think about light falling
Fine rain across my letter tray.


Both
I think I'll stay home again today.


Chorus
A change in the weather
Is all that it takes.
Or so they say.




"The Different Albertines"

Narrator
Albertine…
Albertine…


A silhouette against the sea,
And every time I look I see
A different Albertine,
Albertine.


A girl in Balbec with plump cheeks
She boldly stares from those stairs
Where the street and beach meet.


A silhouette against the sea,
And every time I look I see
A different Albertine,
Albertine.


A girl with red hair
And beauty spot upon chin
And a thin ringing laugh
Like cooing doves
Making love.


A silhouette against the sea,
And every time I look I see
A different Albertine.


Her hands strain out
A leash for hounds or lazily pausing
Lost in dreams,
Then suddenly stretching out-
O Albertine.
O Albertine.
O Albertine.


Narrator & Marcel
A silhouette against the sea,
And every time I look I see
A different-


Marcel
O Albertine.


Narrator
Each time I look I see
A different-you.




"My Soul Weeps (Tango)"

Women
My soul weeps like rain
Upon the steaming rooftops of the town.
Why this piercing pain
Each time a drop hits ground?


My soul weeps like rain,
And as it falls I hear it start to sing
A sad and mournful song
That is empty of everything.


Rosemonde
My soul weeps like rain
Upon the verdant fields so far below.
I hate my heart! It disgusts me.
Why do I hurt so?


My soul weeps like rain,
A heavy downpour from the clouds above.
I weep without reason
Without any hate, or any love.


Company

My soul weeps like rain,
A heavy downpour from the clouds above.
I weep without reason
Without any hate, or any love.




"But What I Say"


Narrator
Love me, is what you think,
But what you say is:


Marcel
Kiss me. Hold me.


Marcel & Albertine
Kiss me. Hold me.


Narrator
But what you think is…
Want me, is all you think.


Marcel
But what I say is:
Touch me. Please me.


Marcel & Albertine
Touch me. Please me.


Narrator
But what you think is…
Like me. Love me. Need me.


Marcel
But what I say is:
Have me.


Marcel & Albertine
Have me. Have me.


Narrator
But what you think is...
Don't hurt me.
Don't leave me.
Don't lie to me.


Marcel
But what I say is:
Kiss me. Kiss me. Tongue me.


Narrator
But what I think is:


Marcel & Albertine
Love me. Love me. Love me.


Narrator, Marcel & Albertine
Kiss me. Kiss me. Tongue me.


Narrator & Marcel
Love me. Love me. Love me.


Narrator
But all I say is:


Marcel
Tickle me!


Marcel & Albertine
Tickle me, tickle me.


Narrator & Marcel
So all I say is:


Marcel & Albertine
Tickle me, tickle me, tickle me.




"Song of Solitude"

Narrator
I'm told laughter's not a language
Well defined, well defined.
Who's to say what's really meant
Or what's behind, what's behind.


On any given day
Half the human race
Is in tears, is in tears.
On any given day
Half the human race
Is in tears, is in tears.


Some say lying is essential
To mankind, to mankind.
Just a part of what the good Lord
Had in mind, had designed.


On any given day
Half the human race
Is in tears, is in tears.
On any given day
Half the human race
Is in tears, is in tears.


I'm told each one of us is all alone,
We long for, we pray for, we search, we roam,
Like dogs, we wait
For some illusive bone.
There's no such thing
As heart, as hope, as home.


On any given day
Half the human race
Is in tears, is in tears.
On any given day
Half the human race
Is in tears, is in tears.




ACT II


"I Want You"

Mlle Lea
I have seen in your heart the fires
Of your love, my love.
I have felt in your heart the desires
Of your love, my love.
And I long to throw away
Forever and a day
These tears, and this sadness too,
And this madness too!
Oh I want you.
Oh I want you.


I have seen in your eyes the heat
Of your love, my love.
I have felt on my thighs the raw meat
Of your love, my love.
And I long to throw away
Forever and a day
These tears and this sadness too,
And this madness too!
Oh I want you!
Oh I want you!


I have no regrets, my love,
Only one wish to make.
To live side by side, heart to heart,
Lip to lip, never to part,
As your body's mine
My flesh thine,
I am the bread and you are the wine,
And I drink you, drink you, drink you,
I drink you.


I have felt on your lips the lust of your love.
I have heard from your lips the distrust
Of your love, my love.
And I long to throw away
Forever and a day
These tears and this sadness too,
And this madness too!
Oh I want you.




"I Need Me a Girl"

Albertine & Mm. Lea
A gent from the country


Albertine
Was soused to the quick.
He's lost his good job,
And gone off and got sick.
Now he comes to my door,
And he knocks there three times,
And this is what I hear him whine:


"I need me a girl. Oh give me a girl,
I need me a girl in the most awful way.
Oh give me a girl over a man any day,
Please pick me a girl or I'll take one."


A man in a bar has cried into his beer.
He'd bet on a horse
Who has brought up the rear.
Now he comes to my door,
And he knocks there three times,
And this is what I hear him whine:


"I need me a girl. Oh give me a girl,
I need me a girl in the most awful way.
Oh give me a girl over a man any day,
Please pick me a girl or I'll take one."


Albertine & Chorus

"I need me a girl. Oh give me a girl,
I need me a girl in the most awful way.
Oh give me a girl over a man any day,
Please pick me a girl or I'll take one."


Albertine
A countess alone, while her count's out of town,
She tries out the theater, then tries on a new gown.
Now she comes to my door,
And she knocks there three times,
And this is what I hear her whine:


"I need me a girl. Oh give me a girl,
I need me a girl in the most awful way.
Oh give me a girl over a man any day,
Please pick me a girl or I'll take one."


Girls
I need me a girl. Oh give me a girl.


All
I need me a girl in the most awful way.
Oh give me a girl over a man any day,
Please pick me a girl or I'll take one.


Albertine
Please pick me a girl or I'll take one!!!




"But What I Say (Reprise)"

Narrator
Like me, is all I want…
But what I say is:


Marcel
Kiss me, kiss me.


Narrator
Kiss me.


Albertine
Kiss me.


Narrator
But what I need is:
Need me,


Marcel
Want me.


Narrator
Want me.


Both
And what I want is:
Love me.


Narrator
Love me,


Marcel
Love me,


Narrator
But what I think is:


Both
Please have me.
Please take me.
Taste all of me!


Narrator
But what I say is:


Marcel
But what I know is:


Albertine
But all I say is:


All
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.


What I say is:
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.


Marcel
Where is she going? is what I think.


Narrator
To take a bath?


Marcel
Is what I think.


All
But what I say is:
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.


Narrator & Marcel
Until all I think is, all I dream is,
All I see is:




"Sometimes"

Mlle Lea, Andree & Rosemonde
Sometimes
I watch her take off her clothes
and throw them on a chair.


Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes.


Sometimes
I will put out the light and sit
And watch her there.


Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes.


Sometimes
Her hair caresses me so
Like the wings of a morning dove.


Inside my mouth is her tongue.
Now this is what I call true love.


Sometimes
I unbutton her chemise before we go to bed.


Sometimes
I kiss her little breasts until I am well fed.


Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes.


Sometimes
I touch the hollow that lies between the thighs.


Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes.


Sometimes
I open wide the door,
I hear the hinges sigh.


Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes.


Sometimes
I touch and watch
As two white legs like swans' necks bend.


Ohhhhhh.
Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes.
Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes.


They push up hard and then back down again.


Sometimes. Sometimes!




"The Street"

Man
Artichokes. Artichokes.
Artichokes. Artichokes.


Man
Tin. Tin. Tin tinker here.
Tin. Tin. Tin tinker here.


Woman
Snails by the pail snails cheap and snails for sale!
Snails by the pail snails cheap and snails for sale!


Woman
Periwinkles. Mollusks. Ask us.
Periwinkles. Mollusks. Ask us.


Man
Knives, scissors sharpened.
Knives, scissors sharpened.
Razors too. Razors, razors too. Razors...


Woman
Rags! Rags! Rags!
Rags! Rags! Rags!


Woman
Dogs clipped. Cats wormed. Tails cut.
Dogs clipped. Cats wormed. Tails cut.


All
Albertine. Albertine. Albertine.
Albertine. Albertine. Albertine.


Marcel
Albertine!
I think I hear her footsteps
Think I see her skipping
Think I see her laughing.
She's laughing. She's humming.
She's singing and running!
I think I see her smiling
Think I see her so happy just being
Away from here
Away from here
Away from here
Away from here.


All
Albertine... Albertine...


Marcel
Albertine.




"The Letters"

Albertine
"Dear one, I am gone.
We have reached the end.
Better to leave as friends
Before we hate and hurt each other more.
I leave you, I leave you,
I leave you, I leave you
My best part, my heart.
Albertine."


Andree
I leave you, I leave you,
I leave you, I leave you
My best part, my heart.
Albertine.


Françoise
Mlle Albertine is gone.


Narrator
"My clever friend, I write you now,
Commending your wisdom.
You, with your smart and watchful eyes,
Saw through my thoughts, exposed my lies.
So farewell-"


Narrator & Marcel
So farewell. So farewell. So farewell.
And go to hell!
Marcel!!!!


Messenger
Mlle Albertine, there's more.


Narrator & Marcel
Yes, we'll not meet again,
I will not think of you as lover or as friend,
Until the last coal of our dead love's
Cold and ashen and my black glove waves farewell,
Go to hell, go to hell, go to hell, go to-


Françoise
Mlle Albertine is gone.


Albertine
"Dearest one, you must know
That I love you still, and that my love will
Never die, no, no matter whom I'm with.
So know I kiss you, I kiss you,
I kiss you, I kiss you
Even when it's another I kiss.
Albertine."


Girls
I kiss you, I kiss you, I kiss you,
I kiss you even when it's another I kiss.
"Albertine"


Albertine & Girls
Mlle Albertine is gone!


Marcel
"My dearest 'A'
I write you just to say
(And please don't faint)
I'm getting married any day.
Her name? You won't believe-Andree!!"


Narrator & Marcel
"I want you, I want you,
I want you, I want you
Finally to see me happy at last.
Stay well, Marcel."


The Men/The Women
I want you/I kiss you
I kiss you/I want you
I need you/I miss you
I miss you/I need you
I hate you/I leave you
I love you/I love you
I leave you/I hate you




"Albertine's Last Letter"


Narrator
"Is it too late for me to return to you?
Would you be prepared to take me back?


Whatever you decide, whatever you decide,
I shall abide by your decision.


If you know now, I beg,
Please, don't make me wait.
The ink from your pen will seal my fate.


Whatever you decide, whatever you decide,
Whatever you decide,
I shall abide by your decision.


Impatiently waiting. Insatiably longing.
I shall board the train at once
If you say to me, "return."


Oh, I burn to know. I yearn to know.
My whole heart is aching.
My whole heart is yours.
Your Albertine.
Your Albertine.
Your Albertine."





"If It Is True"

Albertine
If it is true, if it is so, you love me.
If it is true, and I have heard you do.
Then I am wealthier than a king
With love of you.


If it is so, if it is true, you love me.
If when at night dreaming you dream of me.
Then I am luckier than the king
Who rules the sea.


And if I die a sudden death
For reasons why I do not know.
But if I die a sudden death
To live forever in paradise,
I will not be as happy, in all that time,
As I have been with you.


If it is true, if it is so, you love me.
If it is true, and I have heard you do.
Then I am wealthier than a queen
With love of you.
I am wealthier than a king
With love of you.

track listing
 
  1. Is It Too Late?
  2. Balbec-by-the-Sea
  3. Lullabye
  4. Ferret Song
  5. My Soul Weeps
  6. Talk About the Weather
  7. The Different Albertines
  8. Sad Balbec
  9. My Soul Weeps (Tango)
  10. But What I Say...
  11. Song of Solitude
  12. I Want You
  13. I Need Me a Girl
  14. But What I Say... (reprise)
  15. Sometimes
  16. The Street
  17. The Letters
  18. Albertine's Last Letter
  19. If It Is True


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