The Private and Intimate Life of the House

BOLKONSKY: I've aged
I've aged so very much
I fall asleep at the table
My napkin drops to the floor

I'm full of childish vanities
I forget things
And I live in the past
I've aged so very much

People enjoy me though
I come in for tea in my old-fashioned coat
and powered wig
And I tell stories
And utter scathing critiques

This old-fashioned house
With its gigantic mirrors and powered footmen
And this stern, shrewd old man
A relic of the past century
With his gentle daughter
Is a majestic and agreeable spectacle

MARY: But besides the couple hours during which we have guests
There are also twenty-two hours in the day
During which the private and intimate life of the house continues

BOLKONSKY: Bring me my slippers

MARY: Yes father yes father

BOLKONSKY: Bring me my wine

MARY: Yes father yes father
Oh father

And I never go anywhere
Never invited
For who would take care of him
Who would take care

MARY & BOLKONSKY: And I have no friends
No no no

BOLKONSKY: Girl, all my friends are dead

MARY: No one

BOLKONSKY: All my friends are dead

MARY: Time is moving
It's now or never
My fate is slipping past me

BOLKONSKY: Silence! Silence!

MARY: Yes father yes father

BOLKONSKY: You shut your damn mouth girl
Shut your damn mouth
I can hurt you

MARY & BOLKONSKY: I can hurt you

MARY: But I never ever ever ever would
This is just how it is
It's just how he is
I'm always to blame

He could beat me
Or treat me like a dog
Make me fetch wood or water
And that's just how it is
Oh father
I love you father

Time is moving
It's now or never
I've abandoned the hope of getting married

BOLKONSKY: Ah! What's this, a young suitor?
Ah, come in come in

But don't sit down
Don't sit down
I'm cold to you
Yes I'm mean to you
Now be gone be gone be gone
And don't come back!

Maybe I'll marry someone myself
Some cheap French thing
Oh that offends you does it?
Ah, come in my dear, come in my dear, come in

MARY: And he draws her to him
And he kisses her hand
Embraces her affectionately
And I flush and run out of the room

BOLKONSKY: Come back here
Let an old man have his fun
Wipe away your tears girl
I don't want your tears

MARY: On that horrible woman
Vile and inhuman
She's using you, Papa
Wants your money Papa
To take advantage of your weakness like that
It's disgusting
My voice breaks

BOLKONSKY: It's my money
And I'll throw it where I want
Not at you!
And not at Andrey's harlot!
It's my money, my money,
Mine all mine!

Insolent girl!
Insolent girl!
Where-?
Where-?

Where, Where are my glasses?
Where, where are they?!
Where are my glasses?!

Oh God-
Oh God I'm frightened
Oh God I've aged,
I've aged so very much
Where are my glasses?!
where are they?!
where?!
Where are my glasses?
where are they?
where?
Where are my glasses?!

MARY: They're there upon his head
They're there upon his head
The pride of sacrifice
Gathers in my soul
They're there upon his head

And he forgets things
He lives in the past
He falls asleep at the table
His napkin drops to the floor
His shaking head
Sinks over his plate

He is old and feeble
And I dare to judge him
I disgust myself
I disgust myself



Credits
Writer(s): Dave Malloy
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

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