This is the opening number from the woefully unrecorded Broadway disaster 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, as I posted earlier one of the few shattered remains of the original theatrical concept of a show-within-a-show… (they went through several tries with this slot before arriving on this one for NY). Now just imagine it with a syncopated, distinctively Bernsteinian sound (the melody was recycled as the second theme for Bernstein’s “Slava: A Political Overture”).
Seriously, I obsess so much about this one, I should write a book about it… or maybe just unearth press photos of Patricia Routledge mid “Duet for One.”
“Rehearse!” – 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Alan Jay Lerner (m. Leonard Bernstein)
Let’s start looking alive
When we arrive
It’s gonna be great.
Keep that fervor ablaze
And one of these days
It’s gonna be great.
In the course of human events,
There’s only one event that makes sense
Rehearse and rehearse
Rehearse and don’t stop
And if we do and if we don’t drop,
It’s gonna be great.
Grindstone under your nose
Up on your toes,
It’s gonna be great.
Keep that fervor ablaze
And one of these days
It’s gonna be great.
If we all have plenty of grit
And if we don’t fall into the pit
Of gloom and
Rehearse, rehearse and don’t stop
And if we do and if we don’t drop
It’s gonna be great.
Don’t let go of the thread
Way up ahead
It’s gonna be great.
Stitch wipe stitch
And you’ll see eventually
It’s gonna be great.
Pray to God as much as you please
He’ll only say,
“Get off of your knees.”
Rise up and rehearse
Rehearse and don’t stop
And if we do and if we don’t drop
It’s gonna be great!
Let’s start knockin’ them dead
Looking ahead
It’s gonna be great.
Let’s make everything pop
For up at the top
It’s gonna be great.
Pray to God as much as you please
He’ll only say,
“Get off of your knees.”
Rise up and rehearse,
Rehearse and don’t stop
And if we do and if we don’t drop
It’s gonna be great!
Let’s start looking alive
When we arrive
It’s gonna be great
Keep that fervor ablaze
And one of these days
It’s gonna be great.
In the course of human events
There’s only one event that makes sense
Rise up and rehearse,
Rehearse and don’t stop
And if we do and if we don’t drop
It’s gonna be great.
Gonna be great!
Gonna be great!
If we rehearse!
If we rehearse!
Rehearse!
Rehearse!
It’s gonna be great!
When I saw 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in New York, this opening number thrilled me so much, I never forgot it. The number was absolutely thrilling. In the past few weeks, I came across a dusty but invaluable live recording of the song. In that recording, you hear spontaneous applause midway through. Just today I was wishing for the printed lyric – and here it is. Thank you so much. I, like so many people, will be always regretting that the creators could not see past the sadness – or the anger – about the show’s closing (or the collaboration) and record the score with the wonderful original cast.
Scott, thanks for posting!
I was listening to “Slava! – a Political Overture” the other day while watching my 17 month old nephew. If you’ve never heard it, Bernstein created it in 1977 by combining “Rehearse” and “The Grand Ol’ Party” motives from 1600. My nephew was pretty much doing his own thing, but as soon as the orchestra segued into that upbeat 7/8 section, he stopped, turned and smiled at me then started to spontaneously dance around the living room.
I have that same recording. The audience applauds for the finale reprise as well: “1900 is here, stand up and cheer, it’s gonna be great”
How was your “Duet for One” experience?