Peters is particularly noted for her starring roles in the musicals Song and Dance (Tony Award, Best Actress in Musical) , Annie Get Your Gun (Tony Award, Best Actress in Musical), Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods, becoming closely associated with the composers Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and in films including The Jerk and Pennies from Heaven, both opposite Steve Martin.
Peters has received many honorary awards over the years, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (April 1987); the Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year (1987); the Sarah Siddons Award for outstanding performance in a Chicago theatrical production (1994); the American Theatre Hall of Fame at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City (1996), becoming the youngest person so honored (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Christopher Rawson, January 25, 1996, p. C1); an Honorary Doctorate from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York (May 19, 2002) [10]; and the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame (June 28, 2002).
Some People
Bernadette Peters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Knitting sweaters and sitting still
That's OK for some people
Who don't know they're alive
Some people can thrive and bloom
Living life in the living room
That's perfect for some people
Of one hundred and five
When I think of
All the sights that I gotta see
All the places I gotta play
All the things I gotta be at
Come on Papa
What do you say?
Some people can be content
Playing bingo and paying rent
That's peachy for some people
For some hum-drum people to be
But some people ain't me!
I had a dream
A wonderful dream, Papa
All about June in the Orpheum Circuit
Gimme a chance and I know I can work it! I had a dream
Just as real as can be, Papa
There I was in Mr. Orpheum's office
And he was saying to me
"Rose, get yourself some new orchestrations
New routines and red velvet curtains
Photographs in front of the theater
Get an agent and in jig time
You'll be being booked in the big time!"
Oh, what a dream!
A wonderful dream, Papa!
And all that I need is eighty-eight bucks, Papa
That's what he said
Only eighty-eight bucks
Goodbye to blueberry pie!
Good riddance to all the socials I had to go to
All the lodges I had to play
All the shriners I said hello to
Hey L.A. I'm comin' your way!
Some people sit on their butts
Got the dream, Yeah, but not the guts
That's living for some people
For some hum-drum people
I suppose
Well, they can stay and rot!
But not Rose!!!
The song, Some People, performed by Bernadette Peters, is a declaration of independence and determination. It speaks about how some people are content with living a dull, routine life, but that's not the case for the singer, Rose. She wants to explore, go out, travel and experience new things. The song starts by highlighting the fact that knitting and sitting can thrill some people, but that's not the case here. Some people can bloom by staying within the confines of their living rooms, but Rose isn't satisfied with the mundane.
She sings about how she needs to try and experience life, to see different sights, to be in different places, and to do things that matter. Rose wants to do more, beyond just playing bingo or paying rent. She has a dream, a vivid dream that she describes in detail, about being in the limelight, onstage with new orchestrations, new routines, and red velvet curtains. Rose knows she has what it takes to be in the big time and all she needs is 88 bucks to make her dream a reality.
The song ends with her saying goodbye to her old life and embracing the new one with excitement. Rose says she won't go down the path of routine and boredom. She's going to travel to LA and make her dreams come true. The song is a motivating call for those who feel stuck in life and are yearning for something new and exciting.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people can get a thrill
There are some people who find happiness in simple things
Knitting sweaters and sitting still
Like knitting sweaters and sitting idle
That's OK for some people
Such people are content with their lives
Who don't know they're alive
They may not be aware of their true potential
Some people can thrive and bloom
There are those who live happily by staying indoors
Living life in the living room
They are happy in their home environment
That's perfect for some people
This is an ideal life for them
Of one hundred and five
This simple life only goes so far
But I at least gotta try
I, on the other hand, cannot be content with this
When I think of
Just thinking about
All the sights that I gotta see
All the amazing things I want to witness
All the places I gotta play
All the exciting places I need to go
All the things I gotta be at
All the important events that I need to attend
Come on Papa
Asking for her father's support
What do you say?
Will you help me with my dream?
Some people can be content
Some people are happy with a mundane life
Playing bingo and paying rent
They can be content with their weekly routine
That's peachy for some people
This is good for them
For some hum-drum people to be
For some people who just exist in life
But some people ain't me!
But I cannot be happy with that
I had a dream
Referring to a vision
A wonderful dream, Papa
An amazing, life-changing vision
All about June in the Orpheum Circuit
A desire to perform in the Orpheum Circuit
Gimme a chance and I know I can work it!
I am asking for an opportunity to showcase my talent
Just as real as can be, Papa
As vivid as any real thing could be
There I was in Mr. Orpheum's office
Imagining oneself in the Orpheum manager's room
And he was saying to me
And he is telling me directly
"Rose, get yourself some new orchestrations
Rose is requested to update her music
New routines and red velvet curtains
Upgrade her performances with new costumes and decorations
Photographs in front of the theater
Get high-quality photos in front of the theater
Get an agent and in jig time
Recruit an agent quickly
You'll be being booked in the big time!"
Promising that she will have a breakthrough if she takes these steps
Oh, what a dream!
What a fantastic vision!
And all that I need is eighty-eight bucks, Papa
The only obstacle is purely economical
That's what he said
That was his statement
Goodbye to blueberry pie!
I'm leaving the comfortable life behind
Good riddance to all the socials I had to go to
I don't want to socialize anymore
All the lodges I had to play
I'm done with traditional gigs
All the shriners I said hello to
I don't want to say hello to the Shriners any longer
Hey L.A. I'm comin' your way!
I'm coming to Los Angeles!
Some people sit on their butts
There are those who do nothing all day
Got the dream, Yeah, but not the guts
They have a dream but no courage to take action
That's living for some people
For some, that's what life is like
For some hum-drum people
For some ordinary people
I suppose
I guess
Well, they can stay and rot!
They can stay in their mundane life, I'm out!
But not Rose!!!
I'm not content with the same life forever!
Writer(s): Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim Copyright: Williamson Music Inc., Stratford Music Corporation
Contributed by Alexandra W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sally Niemzyk
It is so nice to listen to someone that could actually sing this song, Bernadette Peters pulls this song off filling the complete level. She plays the role so extremely well, and can actually sing as well!!! Love her!!!!
James McInnis
"actually"
musicalmeg19
This song suits her voice so perfectly!!!
pennyfarthing
Papa is... God? WHERE DID THAT VOICE COME FROM? So, so powerful. Her voice is crystal clear and demands attention of both the ears and the eyes. Thanks for posting!
Tom Sparks
My goodness, how she kept her chest from flying out of that dress! Bernadette is a legend.
theatrefreakazoid44
I am a HUGE fan of both Sutton Foster and Bernadette Peters and they are both amazing and totally incomparable with each other! They are so different and both INSANELY talented!! If you want to say that one of the most famous Broadway veterans in history has no talent, go ahead, but nobody is going to like what you say... Go Sutton and Bernadette!!
Jj
She's amazing and eternally youthful.
Max Martinez
Her presence on stage is remarkable <3
Bruce Jones
She's such a queen! Tearing the stage uppp
boynamedalexxx
@Divinedancedivas I personally think this performance is amazing (however, I loved Peters' interpretation of Rose). She absolutely commands this stage & makes the song her own. Even though she'd yet to play the character, she's totally immersed in it here. That's one of the many things I love about Peters: she totally gives herself over to the song & music, whatever the role. But, I will always be captivated by Peters' appearance, because I think she is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.