William Finn grew up in Natick, Massachusetts with his parents and siblings, Michael and Nancy. He majored in music at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He lives with his life partner in New York City and Pittsfield, MA, where he is an independent composer and writer. He is also "Adjunct Faculty Composer/Lyricist" at NYU.
Finn is a heavily autobiographical textwriter (he always writes his own lyrics); his topics are the gay and Jewish experiences in contemporary America, and very often conflict, loyalty, family, belonging, sickness, healing, and loss.
Finn is especially well noted for his work on what was to become a trilogy of short musical shows off-broadway. In Trousers, March of the Falsettos, and Falsettoland all chronicle the lives of the character Marvin, his ex-wife Trina, his boyfriend, Whizzer, his psychiatrist, Mendel, and his son, Jason.
With Lapine, Finn penned a musical loosely based on his near-death experience following brain surgery, exploring the role of music in his life and recovery. The musical's main character is a man who has what may be terminal brain cancer. The show, A New Brain, starred Malcolm Gets, Kristin Chenoweth and Chip Zien, and premiered at Lincoln Center. The UK premiere was at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2005.
Falsettos, the combination of the latter two parts of his Marvin Trilogy (March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland), opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theater on April 29, 1992, and ran for 486 performances. It won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Music and Lyrics and for Best Book, the latter shared with James Lapine.
More recently, Finn scored another Broadway success with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for which he wrote both music and lyrics. The show won two Tony Awards in 2005; one for Best Book of a Musical, and another for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, and toured the United States in 2006. The show was first workshopped and produced at Barrington Stage Company (BSC) in Pittsfield, MA, where Finn later created The Musical Theatre Lab (MTL) with BSC Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd. The MTL is an annual summer lab where emerging musical theatre artists are supported and new musical works are created, fine-tuned and produced under the curatorship of Finn and Boyd.
Two musical revues of Finn's music have been produced in the last decade. Infinite Joy, in which the composer played the piano and sang along with an all-star cast, contained several songs from shows that were unfinished, and some that were cut from previous shows. Elegies: A Song Cycle is a series of songs the composer wrote in memoriam of loved ones now gone, and in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. A third musical revue, Make Me a Song, which was conceived and directed by Rob Ruggiero, premiered at Hartford's Theaterworks in the summer of 2006, opened off-Broadway in November 2007, and closed in December 2007 after 54 performances.
His long-in-development show, The Royal Family of Broadway, with a book by Richard Greenberg, was based on the play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, which tells the story of a girl from a family of great Broadway actors who contemplates leaving show business and getting married. It has apparently been shelved, according to William Finn's personal notes for Make Me A Song and Playbill magazine. [1].
Finn's most frequent collaborators include librettist James Lapine, director Graciela Daniele and singers Stephen Bogardus, Carolee Carmello, Stephen deRosa, Alison Fraser, Keith Byron Kirk, Norm Lewis, Michael Rupert, Mary Testa, and Chip Zien.
anytime
William Finn Lyrics
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Anytime you cry
Anytime you hear a sound
When you're on the grass
Lying on the ground
Anytime you wash your hands
I'll be around
Though I'm well concealed
I'll be out there cheering
I'm out there in the books you read
It is guaranteed I'm not disappearing fast
Anytime, no not anytime
And I am there each morning
I am there each fall
I am present without warning
And I'm watching it all
Yes I'm watching it all
I am there in music
I am there in sky
I don't know why this thing did happen
But this much is clear
Anytime or anywhere
I am there
Anytime you pray
Anytime you fight
Anytime you gained a pound
Anytime its day
Anytime it's night
Anytime the earth moves
I'll be around
I'm out there in the maple trees
In a summer breeze
On a perfect evening
I'm out there when you celebrate
When the world seems great
I'll be waiting by your side
Anytime, yes anytime
And I am there each morning
I am there each fall
I am present without warning
And I'm watching it all
Yes I'm watching it all
I am there in flowers
I am there in snow
I don't know why this thing happened
But this much is clear
Anytime you cry
Anytime you sing
For anything
And I am there each morning
I am there each fall
I don't know why this thing happened
But this much is clear
Be aware
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
I am there
The song "Anytime" by William Finn is a poignant and heartfelt expression of love and support that is always present, no matter the circumstances or difficulties. The refrain "I am there" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of unconditional presence and support. The lyrics suggest that the singer, the person providing the support, exists in all things, from laughter and tears to nature and books. They are watching over the singer's life, never disappearing, and always being present through any struggles or joys.
The line "I don't know why this thing did happen" suggests that there may have been some event or circumstance that brought the two characters together or prompted the singer's support. However, the singer makes it clear that regardless of what may have triggered their presence, they are unwaveringly committed to supporting the singer. The lyrics are further accentuated with a melancholic and whimsical tune that feels nostalgic and haunting.
Line by Line Meaning
Anytime you laugh
I am there to share your joy and laughter
Anytime you cry
I am there to comfort you in your sorrows
Anytime you hear a sound
I am there in the background, always listening
When you're on the grass
I am there in nature, enjoying the beauty around us
Lying on the ground
I am there to help you relax and take a break
Anytime you wash your hands
I am there to keep you clean and healthy
I'll be around
I am always present and available
I'm out there on the baseball field
I am there to support you in your hobbies and interests
Though I'm well concealed
I may be hard to see, but I am always there
I'll be out there cheering
I am there to root for you and offer encouragement
I'm out there in the books you read
I am there in the stories and knowledge you gain
It is guaranteed I'm not disappearing fast
I am a constant presence in your life
Anytime, no not anytime
I am there all the time, not just sometimes
And I am there each morning
I am there to start your day with you
I am there each fall
I am there to witness the changing of seasons
I am present without warning
I can appear at any moment without notice
And I'm watching it all
I see everything and am constantly aware
I am there in music
I am there to inspire and move you through music
I am there in sky
I am there in the beauty of the sky and clouds
I don't know why this thing did happen
I don't know why I am a constant presence, but I am
But this much is clear
What is clear is that I am always there
Anytime or anywhere
I am there wherever you go and whenever you need me
I am there in the maple trees
I am there in the majesty of nature's beauty
In a summer breeze
I am there to make even the smallest moments enjoyable
On a perfect evening
I am there to share in the serenity of a peaceful night
I'm out there when you celebrate
I am there to share in your happy moments and successes
When the world seems great
I am there to remind you of the good in life
I'll be waiting by your side
I am there to support you in all that you do
Anytime, yes anytime
I am always there, without exception
I am there in flowers
I am there in the beauty and fragrance of nature's blooms
I am there in snow
I am there in the peaceful and calming snowfall
Anytime you pray
I am there to hear your prayers and offer comfort
Anytime you fight
I am there to support you through your struggles and battles
Anytime you gained a pound
I am there to help you through your weight management journey
Anytime its day
I am there to brighten your day with the sunshine
Anytime it's night
I am there to offer peacefulness and calm during the night
Anytime the earth moves
I am there to experience the wonder and power of nature
Anytime you sing
I am there to enjoy and appreciate your music and voice
For anything
I am there for anything you need, big or small
Be aware
Be aware that I am always with you
I am there
I am there through it all
Writer(s): William A. Finn
Contributed by Isabelle J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.