But who will I take care of?
“But who will I take care of?” Bobby asks in the musical Company, not long before launchng into “Being Alive,” in which he accepts and admits, on his 35th birthday, that he wants more in life than the shallow relationships he has had up until that point. “Alone is alone,” he sings, “not alive.”
I was 19 when I assistant stage-managed a production of Company in college. This song gave me chills every night. 35 seemed so far away then.
I just turned 39.
Somebody, need me too much,
Somebody, know me too well,
Somebody, pull me up short
And put me through hell
And give me support
For being alive,
Make me alive.
Make me confused,
Mock me with praise,
Let me be used,
Vary my days.
But alone is alone, not alive.
Somebody, crowd me with love,
Somebody, force me to care,
Somebody, let me come through,
I’ll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive
Being alive.
“Blow out the candles and make a wish,” one of his friends says. “Want something. Want something.” And I do. I do.
Notes
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mashatupitsyn said: Happy birthday, Virgo.
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