I was thinking that some explanation might be required as to the *current music* of my last post. In short I’ve been doing a bit of sorting out over the weekend, which has involved finding new homes for my various writings and paperwork — in the process of doing this I came across the songsheets for the aforementioned community arts show that we put on in the summer term of my first year at university — and outside spectacular concluding with the burning of Dr Faust in the gates of hell with a firework display.
One of the central songs, was this, Helen’s song, and I can still hear it in my head…
Her momma was seduced by a swan.
She laid an egg by a man they called Zeus.
She grew up a beautiful child
And that drove all the men wild.Oh. Helen, you’re so beautiful,
He said.
I want you all for my own.
I wanna hold you, I wannna hug you,
I wanna kiss you long,
Helen of Troy.
Mona Lisa’s nothing on you.
When you smile it makes me smile too.
You’re the fairest of them all.
Oh Helen, I love you.O Faustus, don’t you understand
That there’s another side to me,
And that my face is only a sham?
What you see ain’t what I am.Oh. Helen, you’re so beautiful…
They said she launched a thousand ships
And destroyed all the magic of Troy,
A high price from the Gods above
When all she wanted was love, sweet love.Oh. Helen, you’re so beautiful…
O Faustus, don’t you understand
That there’s another side to me,
And that my face is only a sham?
What you see ain’t what I am.Repeat Chorus, twice (with swing) All Sing…
Dr. Faustus is a great play. It’s unfortunate that Marlowe has such a horrible temper and had to duel. Who knows what he might have been capable of, had he lived?
I don’t think I’ve actually ever seen/read Marlowe’s original play… As I recall, his *Big Night Out* that we did was loosely based on the story in a contempory/live arts kind of way…