ADAMS:
All right, gentlemen, let's get on with it.
Which of us will write our Declaration of Independence?
FRANKLIN:
Mr. Adams, I say you should write it
To your legal mind
And brilliance we defer
ADAMS:
Is that so?
Well, if I'm the one to do it,
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked
You know that, sir
FRANKLIN:
Yes, I know
ADAMS:
But I say you should write it, Franklin
Yes, you
FRANKLIN:
Hell, no!
ADAMS:
Yes, you, Dr. Franklin, you
(But) you, (but) you, but—
FRANKLIN:
Mr. Adams, but Mr. Adams,
The things I write
Are only light extemporania
I won't put politics on paper
It's a mania!
So, I refuse to use the pen
In Pennsylvania
OTHERS:
Pennsylvania!
Pennsylvania!
Refuse to use the pen!
ADAMS:
Mr. Sherman, I say you should write it
You are never controversial
As it were
SHERMAN:
That is true
ADAMS:
Whereas if I'm the one to do it,
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked
You know that, sir
SHERMAN:
Yes, I do
ADAMS:
Then I say you should write it, Roger,
Yes, you
SHERMAN:
Good heavens, no!
ADAMS:
Yes, you, Roger Sherman, you
(But) you, (but) you, but—
SHERMAN:
Mr. Adams, but Mr. Adams,
I cannot write with any style
Or proper etiquette
I don't know a participle
From a predicate
I am just a simple cobbler
From Connecticut
OTHERS:
Connecticut!
Connecticut!
A simple cobbler he!
ADAMS:
Mr. Livingston, maybe you should write it
You have many friends
And you're a diplomat
FRANKLIN:
Oh, that word!
ADAMS:
Whereas if I'm the one to do it,
They'll run their quill pens through it
OTHERS:
He's obnoxious and disliked
Did you know that?
LIVINGSTON:
I hadn't heard!
ADAMS:
So, I say you should write it, Robert
Yes, you
LIVINGSTON:
Not me, Johnny!
ADAMS:
Yes, you, Robert Livingston, you
(But) you, (but) you, but—
LIVINGSTON:
Mr. Adams, dear Mr. Adams,
I've been presented with a new son
By the noble stork
So, I am going home to celebrate
And pop the cork
With all the Livingstons together
Back in old New York
OTHERS:
New York!
New York!
Livingston's going to pop a cork!
ADAMS:
Well, Mr. Jefferson—
JEFFERSON:
Mr. Adams, leave me alone!
ADAMS:
Mr. Jefferson—
JEFFERSON:
Mr. Adams, I have not seen my wife for the past six months! I beg of you—
ADAMS:
"And
we solemnly declare that we will preserve our liberties being with one
mind resolve to die free men rather than to live slaves." Thomas
Jefferson, on the Necessity of Taking Up Arms, 1775. Magnificent! You
write ten times better than any man in Congress, including me. For a man
of only thirty-three years, you have a happy talent of composition and a
remarkable felicity of expression. Now then, sir, will you a patriot or
a lover?
JEFFERSON:
Lover!
ADAMS:
No!
JEFFERSON:
But I burn, Mr. A!
ADAMS:
So do I, Mr. J!
JEFFERSON:
You?
SHERMAN:
You do?
JEFFERSON:
John!
LIVINGSTON:
Who'd have thought it?
ADAMS:
Mr. Jefferson, dear Mr. Jefferson,
I'm only forty-one
I still have my virility
And I can romp through Cupid's Grove
With great agility
But life is more than sexual combustibility
OTHERS:
Combustibility
Combustibility
Combustibili—
JEFFERSON:
QUIET!
Mr. Adams
Damn you, Mr. Adams
You're obnoxious and disliked
That cannot be denied
Once again, you stand between me
And my lovely bride
Oh, Mr. Adams,
You are driving me to homicide!
OTHERS:
Homicide!
Homicide!
We may see murder yet!
From Wikipedia: 1776
is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by
Peter Stone. The show is based on the events leading up to the signing
of the Declaration of Independence, telling a story of the efforts of
John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence
and to sign the document. The show premiered on Broadway in 1969 where
it received acclaim and won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Looking
for a way to save the independence movement, Adams moves to postpone
the vote to allow for the creation of a formal Declaration of
Independence that can be used in the courts of Europe to rally favor and
assistance to the cause of American independence (this will also grant
Adams time to persuade the anti-independence delegates to his side).
Hancock votes with Adams, as many in Congress would like to have a
break.
Before they adjourn, John Hancock
appoints a committee of Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman of
Connecticut, Robert Livingston of New York, and Thomas Jefferson (who is
on the point of going home to see his wife, whom he has not seen in six
months) to draft the declaration. The five argue about who should write
the declaration ("But, Mr. Adams"); the choice falls on a reluctant
Jefferson, since Adams is "obnoxious and disliked," Franklin won't write
politics, Sherman has no writing ability, and Livingston is headed home
to celebrate the birth of his new son.
My
own thoughts: I never saw this musical or heard any songs from it
before. In essence, this was a random pick from a Googled list of
popular Broadway songs.
I
listened to this song to make sure I got the lyrics right, and I'll
admit it's pretty catchy. It has a sort of Monty Python feel to it, and I
don't really care for Monty Python at all. But it's funny, it's got
good rhythm, and there's a little history tucked away for anyone who's a
bit of a history nut.
So, if nothing else, this song is good. Far from spectacular but just as far from awful.
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