After her astonishing performance as Cathy in the world premiere of “The Last Five Years” in Chicago in 2001, Lauren Kennedy collaborated with JRB on this album featuring several songs never heard before as well as new arrangements of songs from all three of JRB’s shows.
Ask me something easier
A smile, a kiss…
Look, I'll give you anything
But don't ask me this.
Don't ask for faith when there's no great supply,
Don't ask for love when I'm just now beginning to feel it
And don't know quite why.Here come the waves - here comes the ocean -
How to decide?
What's there to risk? Why is the course unclear?
Practical fact, foolish emotion,
Terrible pride…
What's there to fear?
Take me from here!And I will follow
Anywhere,
I will follow,
And you will lead me there.
I should resist,
I should refuse you.
Ask me again!
See how I’m strong?
See how I keep my vow?
Maybe I’ll trip –
Maybe I’ll lose you!
What happens then?
What happens now!
Just show me how…
And I will follow
Anywhere,
I will follow,
And you will lead me there.
Oh, all the voices that beg me to stand my ground -
Oh, all the voices that tell me to stay -
All representing the life that I'd planned around:
Do what's expected,
Do what's accepted,
Do what you're told to,
Until today!
'Til today…
I will follow
Anywhere,
I will follow,
And you will lead me
There…
I will follow
And you will lead me there.
A tea dance is in progress.
In the center of the party is JACK SLATON, Governor of Georgia.
He is dancing with his wife, SALLY.
SLATON
Don’t ya think that’s pretty music?
Those fellas sure can play.
That beat was really made for dancin’.
Yes, ma’am, that’s pretty music.
I could dance the night away.
You can hear that song’s so sweet and true,
But truth to tell, not half as sweet as you.
SLATON approaches a contributor’s wife and starts to dance with her.
She is very nervous and a little stiff.
Don’t you think that’s pretty music?
This song sure makes you smile.
Shame you don’t visit here more often.
Yes, ma’am that’s pretty music –
Just listen for a while –
If your feet won’t follow your commands,
Just put yourself in Gov’nor Slaton’s hands.
SLATON returns the lady to her place and, smiling broadly,
grabs another woman and takes her for a turn. This woman is quite a dancer.
That’s it! That’s right!
I found myself a partner who knows my style!
That’s it! That’s right!
A beautiful lady to dance awhile!
Seems you know what I need,
I’ll even take your lead –
We’re dancin’, yes indeed!
You’re so light on your feet, we could dance for a mile!
So don’tcha stop that pretty music!
Sure makes me feel alive!
If I can dance with you today,
Who cares what all those folks’ll say?
Your husband’s fine, it’s true,
But I’m the lucky guy who gets to dance with you,
So turn that ankle and let the music play!
And he gracefully deposits her and picks up the next lady – it is LUCILLE. The lights black out.
Sweeping up plaster
Mopping the floor
Washing the windows
Cleaning the closets
Closing the door
Filling the cracks
Out in the hall
Scraping the paint
Off of the wall
Changing the lock
Turning the key
Letting you go away from me.
Knowing it’s better
Here in my head
Doing the laundry
Washing the dishes
Making the bed
Nothing to fight
Nothing to choose
Maybe it’s good
Learning to lose
Maybe I’ll shine
Finally free
Letting you go away from me.
If I were smart,
If I were strong,
If I could just
Say I was wrong,
Say it was me –
Say I could move –
Make you believe
These things improve,
Could I forget
All of the cracks
Deep in the ground,
Under our tracks?
And if I could,
Then would you see
Or would you go away?
Would you go away…
Facing the facts
Watching the clock
Maybe you’ll change
Just down the block
And if you did,
Where would I be?
Letting you go away from me.
My best friend had a little situation at the end of our senior year,
And like a shot, she and Mitchell got married that summer.
Carolann getting bigger ev’ry minute, thinking “What am I doing here?”
While Mitchell’s out ev’ry night, being a heavy-metal drummer.
They got a little cute house on a little cute street with a crucifix on the door,
Mitchell got a job at a record store in the mall.
Just the typical facts of a typical life in a town on the Eastern Shore –
I thought about what I wanted,
It wasn’t like that at all.
Made Carolann a cute baby sweater,
Thinking “I can do better than that.”
In a year or so, I moved to the city, thinking “What have I got to lose?”
Got a room, got a cat, and got twenty pounds thinner.
Met a guy in a class I was taking who you might say looked like Tom Cruise –
He wouldn’t leave me alone ‘less I went with him to dinner.
And I guess he was cute, and I guess he was sweet, and I guess he was good in bed –
I gave up my life for the better part of a year.
So I’m starting to feel like this maybe might work, and the second it entered my head,
He needed to take some time off,
Focus on his “career” –
He blew me off with a heartfelt letter –
I thought, “I can do better than that.”
You don’t have to get a haircut,
You don’t have to change your shoes,
You don’t have to like Duran Duran,
Just love me.
You don’t have to put the seat down,
You don’t have to watch the news,
You don’t have to learn to tango,
You don’t have to eat prosciutto,
You don’t have to change a thing,
Just stay with me.
I want you and you and nothing but you,
Miles and piles of you –
Finally I’ll have something worthwhile
To think of each morning –
You and you and nothing but you,
No substitution will do,
Nothing but fresh, undiluted and pure,
Top of the line,
And totally mine!
I don’t need any lifetime commitments, I don’t need to get hitched tonight,
I don’t want you to throw up all your walls and defenses.
I don’t mean to put on any pressure, but I know when a thing is right –
And I spend every day reconfiguring my senses.
When we get to my house, take a look at that town, take a look at how far I’ve gone–
I will never go back, never look back anymore.
And it feels like my life led right to your side and will keep me there from now on.
Think about what you wanted,
Think about what could be,
Think about how I love you –
Say you’ll move in with me.
Think of what’s great about me and you,
Think of the bullshit we’ve both been through,
Think of what’s past, because we can do
Better!
We can do better!
We can do better than that!
We can do better than that!
ANDREA
I’ll never have the power to control the land
Or conquer half the world or claim the sun
I’ll never be the kind who simply waves her hand
And has a million people do the things I wish I’d done
But in the eyes of Heaven, my place is assured
I carry with me Heaven’s grand design
Gloria, Gloria, I will sing the name of the Lord
And he will make me shine
And I will be like Mother Mary
With a blessing in my soul
And I will give the world my eyes so they can see
And I will be like Mother Mary
With a blessing in my soul
And the future of the world inside of me
In the eyes of Heaven, my place is assured
I carry with me Heaven’s grand design
Gloria, Gloria, I will sing the name of the Lord
And he will make me shine
And I will be like Mother Mary
With a blessing in my soul
And I will give the world my eyes so they can see
And I will be like Mother Mary
With a blessing in my soul
And the future of the world inside of me
And I will be like Mother Mary
With the power in my veins
To believe in all the things I’ve yet to be
And I will be like Mother Mary
And I’ll suffer any pains
For the future of the world
For the future of the world
Inside of me.
JASON
I had a house while you were gone.
The week after you left me,
I found a couple acres
Near Severna Park.
I had a house while you were gone –
A house with silver shutters
And a driveway laid in marble
And thousands of rooms to fill
And miles of space to fly…
And I tried to believe it –
It was better without you.
I was safer alone…
No, I’d give it all for you
I’d give it all for you by my side once more.
Oh, I’d give it all for you,
I’d give it all to hold you again,
To feel I’m completed,
To know there and then
That all that I needed
Was you to fight the fear.
And now you’re here.
LAUREN
I took a trip while I was gone.
I cashed in all my savings
And bought an Eldorado –
Drove to Tennessee.
I took a trip while I was gone.
I drove across the country
And I stopped at lots of diners
And stared at a million stars
And thought I could touch the sky…
And I tried to believe it –
I was better without you.
I was finally free…
No, I’d give it all for you,
I’d give it all for you by my side once more.
Oh, I’d give it all for you,
I’d give it ’cause the mountains I climb
Get higher and higher.
I’m running from time
And walking through fire,
And dreams just don’t come true.
But now, there’s you.
JASON
God knows it’s easy to hide –
Easy to hide from the things that you feel
And harder to blindly trust what you can’t understand.
LAUREN
God knows it’s easy to run –
Easy to run from the people you love
And harder to stand and fight for the things you believe.
BOTH
Nothing about us was perfect or clear,
But when Paradise calls me, I’d rather be here.
There’s something between us that nobody else needs to see.
LAUREN
There were oceans to cross –
JASON
There were mountains to conquer –
LAUREN
– And I stood on the shore –
JASON
– And I stood on the cliff –
BOTH
And the second before I jumped,
I knew where I needed to be!
Oh, I gave it all for you!
I gave it all for you by my side once more.
Oh, I gave it all for you.
I gave it ’cause it’s harder to touch
The things that are dearer.
I love you too much
To trust something clearer.
I know I fell too far…
But here you are.
When you come home to me,
I’ll wear a sweeter smile,
And hope that, for a while, you’ll stay.
When you come home to me,
Your hand will touch my face
And banish any trace of gray!
Soon, a love will rise anew,
Even greater than the joy I’ve felt
Just missing you,
And once again, I’ll be
So proud to call you mine
When fin’lly you come home to me.
Soon a love will rise anew,
Even greater than the joy I’ve felt
Just missing you…
And once again, I’ll be
So proud to call you mine!
When fin’lly you come home
To me.
One of these days, I’ll turn to water,
Fall from a cloud into the heat,
Roll down the gutter past the window,
Land in a puddle at your feet.
One of these days, you’ll get distracted,
One of these days, our eyes will meet
And I’m dreaming, wide awake
Filled and drained.
Dreaming, wide awake
Unrestrained.
Floating, fainting,
Painting palaces and trying.
Trying.
Watch how the wind is rushing through me.
Look how the winter turns to spring.
If I can burst the clouds just breathing,
Who knows what else my heart might bring?
Everyone’s screaming, screaming “Grow up!” –
Funny, how I don’t hear a thing
For I’m dreaming, wide awake,
Cursed and guiled.
Dreaming, wide awake,
Growing wild.
Reaching, yearning,
Burning uncontrolled, and crying.
Crying!
This is how the eyes of the world are opened.
This is how the sun burns through the mist,
When one strong hand settles in beside you,
You watch as fingers blossom from his fist,
And suddenly you understand
The reason and the reasons you exist,
And you’re dreaming!
Dreaming!
Bursting, shaking,
Tilting, quaking,
Breaking promises and flying!
Flying!
On CATHERINE’S front steps at the end of the first date. Jamie has just kissed CATHERINE.CATHERINEDon’t kiss me goodbye again.Leave this night clean and quiet.You want the last word,You want me to laugh,But leave it for now.All you can say,All you can feelWas wrapped up inside that one perfect kiss.Leave it at that:I’ll watch you turn the corner and go…
And goodbye until tomorrow.
Goodbye until the next time you call,
And I will be waiting.
I will be waiting.
Goodbye until tomorrow.
Goodbye ‘til I recall how to breathe,
And I have been waiting,
I have been waiting for you.
She watches him go.
I stand on a precipice.
I struggle to keep my balance.
I open myself,
I open myself one stitch at a time.
Finally yes!
Finally now!
Finally something takes me away.
Finally free!
Finally he can cut through these strings,
And open my wings!
So goodbye until tomorrow!
Goodbye until my feet touch the floor,
And I will be waiting,
I will be waiting!
Goodbye until tomorrow!
Goodbye until the rest of my life
And I have been waiting,
I have been waiting for you!
Waiting for you,
Waiting for you!
JAMIE appears at the table. He is writing a note on a yellow pad on the table- his wedding ring is on the table next to it, where it was at the beginning of the show.
JAMIE
I called Elise to help me pack my bags.
I went downtown and closed the bank account.
It’s not about another shrink,
It’s not about another compromise.
I’m not the only one who’s hurting here.
I don’t know what the Hell is left to do.
You never saw how far the crack had opened.
You never knew I had run out of rope and
I could never rescue you.
All you ever wanted,
But I could never rescue you,
No matter how I tried.
All I could do was love you hard
And let you go.
He puts down the pen, stands and looks around the empty apartment.
No matter how I tried,
All I could do was love you.
God, I loved you so.
So we could fight,
Or we could wait,
Or I could go…
CATHERINEGoodbye until tomorrow!Goodbye until I crawl to your door,And I will be waiting,I will be waiting!Goodbye until tomorrow!Goodbye until I’m done thanking God,For I have been waiting!I have been waiting for you!I have been waiting!I have been waiting for you!I will keep waiting –I will be waiting for you!He picks up his briefcase and knapsack and
slowly begins to cross the stage, passing her front steps.
CATHERINE
Just close the gate;
I’ll stand and wait.She is looking off, where she watched him go.
He is looking up at her on her steps.
Jamie . . .
BOTH
Goodbye.
JAMIEYou never noticed howThe wind had changed.I didn’t see a way we both could win.Goodbye Cathy.Goodbye…
If I told you now
That I didn’t have the answers,
That I didn’t know the reasons,
That I didn’t hold the key –
If I told you now
That I couldn’t say for certain
That I wouldn’t break my promise,
Could you bear to look at me?
If I told you now
That in spite of my persistence
And my confident demeanor
I am more and more in doubt;
If I told you now,
Would you smile with understanding?
Would you burn with disappointment?
Would you turn and turn me out?
If I told you now,
I suspect you still might say
We’ve gone too far to change,
Or push away the tide.
Would you close us down,
Or would I get extra points because I tried?
If I tried.
If I told you now,
And I’m not about to tell you,
But in case I chose to mention
Things I know you won’t allow,
Would it hurt less later
If I told you now?
If I told you now
That we’re never really safe
From all the fires we set
Or debts we had to pay,
Would you hold me now
So at least, for this, for here,
I know you’d stay?
If you’d stay…
If I told you now,
It would be for your protection,
‘Cause I’m sure I’ll disappoint you,
Though I can’t imagine how –
Does it make me better
If I told you now?
Would you make me better
If I told you now?
BILLYThe angels called youTo leave this land.My work is finished, my work is finished –The angels command.I’ll come to join you,Reach out your handAnd I’ll be flying home,Straight into your arms.And I’ll be flying home.Carry me on, carry me on,And I’m flying home.BILLYThe angels call meTo shut the door.We’re almost touching,We’re almost touchingJust one minute moreI’ll hear you call me,Just like before,And I’ll be flying homeStraight into your armsAnd I’ll be flying home.Carry me on, carry me onAnd I’m flying home.Carry me onSpeak my name and I’ll rise into the skyCarry me onAnd I’ll taste the HeavensCarry me onAnd my shame and my fear will pass me byI am rising, risingSay the word, and I’ll lift into the airCarry me onAnd I’ll stay forever!I am ready, Father!Take my hand!I am ready, FatherTo flyFly!Fly!And I am flying homeStraight into your armsAnd I am flying home
Carry me on, carry me on
Carry me on, carry me on
Carry me on, carry me on
Carry me on, carry me on
And I am flying home
Straight into your arms
And I am flying home
Carry me on, carry me on
And I’m flying
Home!
ANDREA, JESSICA & BROOKS
Ooh…We’re almost touching,Ooh…Aah…Ooh…Carry me on, carry me onCarry me onCarry me on
Carry me on
Rising, rising…
Carry me on!
Carry me on
Father!
Aah!
Fly!
Fly!
Fly!
Flying home!
I am flying, I am flying home
Straight into your arms
Flying home!
I am flying home
Carry me on, carry me on
Carry me on, carry me on
Carry me on, carry me on
Carry me on, carry me!
Carry me, carry me, I’m flying
Home!
I am flying, I am flying home
Straight into your arms
Flying home!
I am flying home
Carry me on, carry me on
I’m flying
Home!