Sweet Charity: Charity's Soliloquy
Gwen Verdon Lyrics

The song "If My Friends Could See Me Now" from the 1960's musical "Sweet Charity" tells the story of a woman named Charity who grew up poor and lived in a shabby apartment with a group of friends. However, in the song, she describes how her life has suddenly taken a turn for the better. She tells the audience that if her old friends could see her now, they would be amazed at the company she's keeping, the fancy things she's eating and drinking, and the luxurious surroundings she's experiencing. She boasts about being chauffeured in a rented limousine and hanging out with high society people. She's amazed at how far she's come and revels in the attention she's receiving. She feels like she's reached the pinnacle of success and that everything is perfect.

The lyrics of "If My Friends Could See Me Now" are full of irony and sarcasm. Charity's life may look luxurious on the surface, but deep down she's still the same person, and she knows that her fancy new friends only accept her because of her newfound wealth. The lyrics are also full of wordplay and double entendres, which add to the song's humor and playfulness.

One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally intended to be a duet between the characters of Charity and her friend, Helene. However, the director of the musical, Bob Fosse, ultimately decided to make it a solo number for Charity. The song has been covered by a number of artists over the years, including Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley Bassey, and Christina Aguilera. Another interesting fact is that the original Broadway cast recording of "Sweet Charity," which includes "If My Friends Could See Me Now," won a Grammy award in 1967 for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album.

Chords (Gwen Verdon version):
Verse:
Gmaj7 Bm7
Tonight at eight, you shoulda seen
Am7 D7
A chauffeur pull up in a rented limousine
Gmaj7 Bm7
My neighbours burned, they like to die
Am7 D7
When I tell them who is gettin' in and goin' out is I

Chorus:
Gmaj7 F#7
If they could see me now, that little gang of mine
Bm7 D7
I'm eating fancy chow and drinking fancy wine
Gmaj7 F#7
I'd like those stumble bums to see for a fact
Bm7 D7
The kind of top drawer, first rate chums I attract
Gmaj7 F#7
All I can say is, "Wow-ee", looka where I am
Bm7 E7
Tonight, I landed, pow, right in a pot of jam

Bridge:
A7 D7
What a set up, holy cow, they'd never believe it
Am7 D7
If my friends could see me now, if they could see me now

Verse:
Gmaj7 Bm7
My little dusty group, traipsin' 'round this million dollar chicken coop
Am7 D7
I'd hear those thrift shop cats say, "Brother, get her
Gmaj7 Bm7
Draped on a bedspread made from three kinds of fur"
Am7 D7
All I can say is, "Wow, wait till the riff an' raff
Gmaj7 Bm7
See just exactly how he sign this autograph"

Chorus:
Gmaj7 F#7
What a build up, holy cow, they'd never believe it
Bm7 D7
If my friends could see me now, if they could see me now
Gmaj7 F#7
Alone with Mister V., who's waiting on me like he was a maitre d'
Bm7 E7
I'd hear my buddies saying, "Crazy, what gives?
Gmaj7 F#7
Tonight she's living like the other half lives"
Bm7 E7
To think the highest brow, which I must say is he
Gmaj7 F#7
Should pick the lowest brow, which there's no doubt is me

Outro:
Gmaj7 F#7
What a step up, holy cow, they'd never believe it
Bm7 D7
If my friends could see me now
Gmaj7 F#7
What a step up, holy cow, they'd never believe it
Bm7 D7
They'd never believe it, if my friends could see me now.