Composer and songwriter ("Wonderful, Wonderful", "Dungare… Read Full Bio ↴From imdb:
Composer and songwriter ("Wonderful, Wonderful", "Dungaree Doll", "See You in September"), he joined ASCAP in 1953 and collaborated musically with Hal David. His other popular-song compositions include "Broken-Hearted Melody", "Wind, Sand and Stars", "Johnny Get Angry" and "I Am".
A former history teacher who had majored in the subject at NYU and Cornell, he developed his musical "1776" from his love for the men involved in the story and the period in which they lived. For the 1969 musical, he received a New York Drama Critics' Award and two Tony Awards.
Won Broadway's 1969 Tony Award for music and lyrics of Best Musical winner "1776."
(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0250360/bio)
Finale
Sherman Edwards Lyrics
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Mr. Secretary, is the Declaration ready to be signed?
Charles Thomson:
It is.
John Hancock:
Very well. Call the roll.
Charles Thomson:
New Hampshire. Dr. Josiah Bartlett
Massachusetts. Mr. John Adams
Rhode Island. Mr. Stephen Hopkins
Connecticut. Mr. Roger Sherman.
New York. Mr. Lewis Morris.
New Jersey. The Reverend Jonathan Witherspoon.
Pennsylvania. Dr. Benjamin Franklin
Delaware. Mr. Caesar Rodney.
Mary-land. Mr. Samuel Chase
Virginia. Mr. Thomas Jefferson.
North Carolina. Mr. Joseph Hewes.
South Carolina. Mr. Edward Rutledge.
Georgia. Dr. Lyman Hall.
The lyrics of Sherman Edwards's song "Finale" narrate the moment when the Declaration of Independence was about to be signed. John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, asks Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Congress, if the Declaration is ready to be signed. Charles Thomson confirms that it is, and then John Hancock instructs him to call the roll. Charles Thomson calls out the name of each colony and the representative who will sign the document on behalf of that colony.
Line by Line Meaning
Mr. Secretary, is the Declaration ready to be signed?
John Hancock asks Charles Thomson if the Declaration of Independence is complete and ready for the signatures.
It is.
Charles Thomson confirms that the Declaration of Independence is indeed ready to be signed.
Very well. Call the roll.
John Hancock gives permission for the states to be called in order for their representatives to sign the Declaration.
New Hampshire. Dr. Josiah Bartlett
Massachusetts. Mr. John Adams
Rhode Island. Mr. Stephen Hopkins
Connecticut. Mr. Roger Sherman.
New York. Mr. Lewis Morris.
New Jersey. The Reverend Jonathan Witherspoon.
Pennsylvania. Dr. Benjamin Franklin
Delaware. Mr. Caesar Rodney.
Mary-land. Mr. Samuel Chase
Virginia. Mr. Thomas Jefferson.
North Carolina. Mr. Joseph Hewes.
South Carolina. Mr. Edward Rutledge.
Georgia. Dr. Lyman Hall.
Charles Thomson calls each state in the order they appear on the Declaration, listing the name of the representative who will be signing from each state.
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.