Lyr Req: The Carousel Waltz

Subject: Lyrics Needed: The Carousel Waltz
From:
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 04:35 PM

My six-year-old loves her music box which has this song and I would like to teach her the words. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyrics Needed: The Carousel Waltz
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 06:55 PM

Hi - I don't think you're going to find lyrics. I have been proven wrong on occasion, but those were just typographical errors....
As far as I can tell, the "Waltz" from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "Carousel" was strictly an instrumental. If there were words, they were added later, probably by somebody other than Oscar Hammerstein. I don't know if you would want your six-year-old to watch "Carousel." Parts of it might be upsetting. I can't remember now it if was his wife or daughter that the leading male, Billy, beat up - but that abuse might be really tough for your daughter to handle.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyrics Needed: The Carousel Waltz
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jun 98 - 07:20 PM

Hmmm. Maybe I AM wrong - but only part wrong. Julie Andrews has an album called Broadway: the Music of Richard Rodgers, and it has a waltz medley that starts with "Carousel Waltz." While there might not be actual lyrics to "Carousel Waltz," it is wonderfully woven in with the lyrics and tunes of Rodgers & Sondheim's "Do I Hear a Waltz" and Rodgers & Hammerstein's "It's a Grand Night for Singing," "A Wonderful Guy," "Out of My Dreams," "Oh What a Beautiful Morning," and "This Nearly Was Mine." I think it's an absolutely wonderful recording, but then I've been in love with Julie Andrews ever since Mary Poppins came out. The "Carousel Waltz" is such a haunting, persistent melody that you'd think it should have words.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyrics Needed: The Carousel Waltz
From: alison
Date: 03 Jun 98 - 08:55 AM

hi,

Yes, he hits the wife at one stage. I can remeber watching Carousel when I was pretty young.... I've always loved musicals. (Thought Gordon McCrae was a bit of a spunk too ..... especially in the "Desert song.)The only bit that upset me as a kid was when "Billy" died. Still it had to happen or we wouldn't have got to sing "You'll never walk alone."

Dire Straits used the 'Carousel Waltz" as the introduction for their song "Tunnel of love," but it was purely instrumental. I have never heard any words to the tune itself.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyrics Needed: The Carousel Waltz
From: Allan C.
Date: 04 Jun 98 - 08:20 AM

I am certain that all of the above indications are correct. There were no lyrics to the original "Carousel Waltz" which was, I believe, played almost as a continuation of the overture as a background for the first scene. At least in the version I played in, Billy was never actually seen to have struck Julie. The abuse is instead mentioned in a conversation. I think it is a female character gossiping either with Nettie or within her earshot who says, "I hear that he beats her!". I also agree that it is too beautiful a tune to go without lyrics.