The Schmuel Song (Live at the London Palladium)

The Schmuel Song (Live at the London Palladium) - Ben Platt

Lyrics by：Jason Robert Brown

Produced by：Jason Robert Brown

Schmuel would work 'til half-past ten

At his tailor shop in Klimovich

Get up at dawn and start again

With the hems and pins and twist

Forty one years had come and gone

At his tailor shop in Klimovich

Watching the winters soldier on

There was one thing Schmuel missed

If I only had time old Schmuel said

I would build the dress that's in my head

A dress to fire the mad desire

Of girls from here to Minsk

But I have no more hours left to sew

Then the clock upon the wall began to glow

And the clock said nanananananana

Oh Schmuel you'll get to be happy

Nanananananana

I give you unlimited time

Nanananananana

So Schmuel go sew and be happy

But Schmuel said no no it's not my lot

I've gotta make do with the time I've got

Schmuel was done at half-past ten

And he said good night old Klimovich

Put on his coat to go but then the clock cried

Wait not yet

Even though you're not wise or rich

You're the finest man in Klimovich

Listen up Schmuel

Make one stitch and you'll see what you can get

But Schmuel said clock it's much too late

I'm at peace with life

I accept my fate

But the clock said

Schmuel one stitch and you will

Unlock the dreams you've lost

So Schmuel with reluctance took his thread

He pulled a bolt of velvet and he said

I should take out my teeth and go to bed

I'm sitting here with talking clocks instead

And the clock said nanananananana

Oh Schmuel you'll get to be happy

Nanananananana

I give you unlimited time

Nanananananana

Just do it and you can be happy

So Schmuel put the thread through the needle's eye

And the moon stared down from a starless sky

And he pushed the thread through the velvet black

And he looked and the clock was turning back

So he grabbed his shears and he cut some lace

As the hands reversed on the old clock's face

And his fingers flew and the fabric swirled

It was nine fifteen all around the world

Every cut and stitch was a perfect fit

As if God himself were controlling it

And Schmuel cried through a rush of tears

Take me back take me back all forty one years

And on it went down that silent street

'Til Schmuel's dress was at last complete

And he stretched his arms

And he closed his eyes

And the morning sun finally started to rise

And the dress he made on that endless night

Was a dress that would make any soul take flight

Not a swatch not a skein had gone to waste

Every ribbon and button ideally placed

And sewn into the seams were forty one seasons of dreams

Dreams that you could feel coming real

And that very dress so the papers swore

Was the dress a girl in Odessa wore

On the day she promised forevermore

To love a young man named Schmuel

Who only one day before had knocked at her kitchen door

Plenty have hoped and dreamed and prayed

But they can't get out of Klimovich

If Schmuel had been a cute goyishe maid

He'd've looked a lot like you

Maybe it's just that you're afraid

To go out on to a limb-ovich

Maybe your heart's completely swayed

But your head can't follow through

But shouldn't I want the world to see

The brilliant girl who inspires me?

Don't you think that now's a good time to be

The ambitious freak you are?

Say goodbye to wiping ashtrays at the bar

Say hello to Cathy Hiatt big time star

'Cause I say nanananananana

Cathy you get to be happy

Nanananananana

I give you unlimited time

Nanananananana

Stop temping and go go be happy

Here's a headshot guy and a new backstage

Where you're right for something on every page

Take a breath take a step

Take a chance take your time

Have I mentioned today

How lucky I am

To be in love with you?