A switch to popular standards by the likes of George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers made them mainstays in the pops-orchestra field. The duo experimented with prepared pianos, influenced - oddly enough - by the ideas of avant-garde composer John Cage. By adding paper, sticks, rubber, wood blocks, metal bars, chains, glass, mallets, and other found objects to piano string beds, they were able to produce a variety of bizarre sounds that sometimes resembled percussion instruments, and at other times produced a spacy, almost electronic sound.
West Side Story
Ferrante & Teicher Lyrics
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Second hand hose
All the girls hand me
Their second hand clothes
Even my pajamas when I darn 'em
Have somebody else's
Initials on 'em
Second hand rings
I never get what other girlies do
Once while strolling
Through the ritz a girl got my goat
She nudged her friend
And said oh look there goes
My old fur coat
I don't believe in
Frettin' and grievin'
Why mess around with strife
I never was caught out
To step and strut out
Give me the simple life
Some find a pleasant dining on pheasants
Those things roll off my comb
Just serve me tomatoes
And mashed potatoes
Any place I hang my hat is home
Oh, I got plenty o' nothin'
And nothin's plenty for me
I got no car, I got no mule
I got no misery
Don't you see
I got no lock on my door
That's okay with me
Cause the things that I prize
Like the stars in the skies are all free
I got plenty o' nothin'
And nothin's plenty for me
Once I built a railroad
Made it run,
Made it race
Against time
Once I built a railroad
Now it's done
Brother can you spare a dime?
Say don't you remember
They called me al
It was al all the time
Say don't you remember
I'm your pal
Buddy can you spare a dime?
Nobody knows you
When you're down and out
In your pocket's
Not one penny
And your friends
Well, you haven't any
Soon as you get on your feet again
Everybody
Everybody
Is your long lost friend
It's mighty strange
Without a doubt
But nobody knows you
When you're down and out
Oh every one knows
That I'm just second hand rose
From second avenue
Ya can't beat the egg-creams
From second avenue
There is more between me
And fifth avenue
Than three blocks
I tell ya
Second avenue
The flowers in spring
The robins that sing
The sun beam that shines
They're yours, they're mine
And love can come to anyone
Because the best things in life are free
The lyrics to Ferrante & Teicher's song "West Side Story" are about a person who is content with their simple life and the few possessions they have, even if they are second-hand or hand-me-downs. The singer describes wearing second-hand shoes and clothes, and even having someone else's initials on their pajamas. Despite this, they do not fret or grieve about their situation and are happy with the simple life they lead. They do not understand why others find pleasure in extravagant or expensive things like dining on pheasants or owning a car or a mule. Instead, they are satisfied with simple, free things like tomatoes and mashed potatoes or the stars in the sky. They also mention a time when they built a railroad and how they now have nothing, but even so, they are content with what they do have. In the end, they reflect on the fact that love can come to anyone, regardless of their possessions, and that the best things in life are free.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm wearing second hand shoes
I am currently sporting shoes that belonged to someone else previously
Second hand hose
The hosiery I am wearing was once someone else's possession
All the girls hand me their second hand clothes
Females often offer me their old attire once they no longer have a use for it
Even my pajamas when I darn 'em have somebody else's initials on 'em
As I fix my sleepwear, I notice that someone else's name appears on it as its original owner
Second hand rings
The rings I wear have already been owned by others
Mmm...second hand things
I am surrounded by numerous items that have had previous owners
I never get what other girlies do
I am unlike other girls and do not follow common trends or interests
Once while strolling through the ritz a girl got my goat
During a leisurely walk through an upscale area, a female upset me
She nudged her friend and said oh look there goes my old fur coat
The girl points out her former fur coat in my possession to her companion
I don't believe in frettin' and grievin', why mess around with strife
I refuse to worry or suffer distress, as there is no point in dwelling on strife
I never was caught out to step and strut out, give me the simple life
I have never wished to display ostentatious behavior and prefer a straightforward lifestyle
Some find a pleasant dining on pheasants, those things roll off my comb
While some people may enjoy high-end dining experiences, such things do not interest me
Just serve me tomatoes and mashed potatoes, any place I hang my hat is home
I would be content with a simple meal of vegetables and feel comfortable wherever I am
Oh, I got plenty o' nothin' and nothin's plenty for me
I may have no material possessions, but I am content with what I have
I got no car, I got no mule, I got no misery
I own neither a vehicle nor an animal, but I am also free from worry and sorrow
Don't you see, I got no lock on my door, that's okay with me
My dwelling lacks a secure lock, but I am comfortable with that fact
Cause the things that I prize like the stars in the skies are all free
The celestial bodies and other natural wonders I appreciate require no payment
Once I built a railroad, made it run, made it race against time
At one point, I constructed and ensured the success of a railway that operated efficiently
Once I built a railroad, now it's done, brother can you spare a dime?
The railway I created is no longer active, so I require financial assistance
Say don't you remember, they called me Al, it was Al all the time
Do you recall referring to me as Al frequently?
Say don't you remember, I'm your pal, buddy can you spare a dime?
Remember that you and I are good friends - may I borrow money from you?
Nobody knows you when you're down and out
People tend to avoid and forget about those who are financially unstable or struggling emotionally
In your pocket's not one penny and your friends, well you haven't any
You have absolutely no money and no friends to help you out
Soon as you get on your feet again, everybody everybody is your long lost friend
As soon as you regain financial stability or success, people will suddenly befriend you again
It's mighty strange without a doubt, but nobody knows you when you're down and out
The odd truth is that once you have fallen on hard times, others will abandon you
Oh every one knows that I'm just second hand rose from second avenue
Everyone is aware that I am only an ordinary lady from an average street
Ya can't beat the egg-creams from second avenue, there is more between me and fifth avenue than three blocks
You cannot find better egg cream beverages anywhere other than the shops on Second Avenue; although I am not from an upscale location like Fifth Avenue, more separates me from there than simply three city blocks
The flowers in spring, the robins that sing, the sun beam that shines, they're yours, they're mine, and love can come to anyone because the best things in life are free
We all can enjoy spring blooms, the melodies of our avian neighbors, and the rays of sun that bring warmth. Additionally, love can be found by all, as the most precious aspects of life do not require payment
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NIGEL ANDREW STAFF, DONOVAN BENNETT, WAYNE MCGREGOR, ADIDJA PALMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind