The context: This song comes about a third of the way into The Rocking Horse Winner. We have only seen Hester and Jack, who are married, loathing each other. We are wondering why these two people are together, and why they ever got together. This song is the two of them reliving their sexual courtship.
A little bit about the creation of this song: We knew we wanted something young and sexy. We also wanted something that relates to rocking horses. So I came up with a merry-go-round. The music was written completely first. I liked the up and down sensuality of the music. So I started there. Listing words that were sexy, listing words about carnivals, listing words about horses. I liked how the music was this back and forth, talking-over-each-other, playful, slightly dangerous conversation. I decided I wanted to have them singing things that constantly referred back to each other, even when they were both singing constantly. Like when you're non-stop talking, and your partner is non-stop talking, but you still hear and respond to what the other person is saying. For example, "Be warned dear, better be wary" and "I'm warning you, best beware". "Warn" and "Be wary/beware" line up, but then diverge. Also, I used four different meanings of the word "fair/fare". It's a fun song to listen to more than once.
A little bit about the creation of this song: We knew we wanted something young and sexy. We also wanted something that relates to rocking horses. So I came up with a merry-go-round. The music was written completely first. I liked the up and down sensuality of the music. So I started there. Listing words that were sexy, listing words about carnivals, listing words about horses. I liked how the music was this back and forth, talking-over-each-other, playful, slightly dangerous conversation. I decided I wanted to have them singing things that constantly referred back to each other, even when they were both singing constantly. Like when you're non-stop talking, and your partner is non-stop talking, but you still hear and respond to what the other person is saying. For example, "Be warned dear, better be wary" and "I'm warning you, best beware". "Warn" and "Be wary/beware" line up, but then diverge. Also, I used four different meanings of the word "fair/fare". It's a fun song to listen to more than once.
A Day at the Fair (from the musical The Rocking Horse Winner)
Lyrics by David Rackoff, Music by Sahara Sunday Spain
Lyrics by David Rackoff, Music by Sahara Sunday Spain
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HESTER
YOU IN THE DISTANCE, CARE FOR A BEER? YOU IN THE DERBY, YOU’D BETTER COME HERE. JACK BET I’LL REGRET IT. I’LL SAY HELLO. JUST FOR A MOMENT. SO WHERE SHALL WE GO? |
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HESTER
WONDER WHERE THE PRETTY PONIES WILL SWING US, THEY’LL BRING US, THEY’LL FLING US AROUND AND 'ROUND. THE WARM SUN IN THE SALTY AIR. THE FEEL OF YOUR HAZEL HAIR. THE STALLION AND THE STALLION’S MARE. A DAY AT THE FAIR. YOU IN MY KITCHEN? HEAR THE CALLIOPE STARTING BACK UP. WONDER WHAT THE PRETTY PONIES WILL SCREAM TO BE, BURN TO BE, FOUND GOING ROUND AND 'ROUND. BE WARNED, DEAR, BETTER BE WARY. SUMMER SUN CAN BLIND. THE STALLION AND THE STALLION’S MARE. THE RIDE’S WORTH THE FARE. |
HESTER
OUT ON THE BOARDWALK, FOLLOW THE SOUND. CARE FOR A RIDE ON THE MERRY-GO-ROUND? THE SUN, THE SALT, THE AIR. THE FEEL— I FEEL YOUR HAZEL HAIR. MY STALLION’S MARE, PLEASE MARRY ME. STAY FINE AND FAIR. CARE FOR A CUP? HEAR THE CALLIOPE START AS THE PLEASURES ABANDONED DREAM TO BE, YEARN TO BE FOUND ON THE MERRY-GO MERRY-GO-ROUND. I’M WARNING YOU, BEST BEWARE. THE SUN BEATS A BLINDING GLARE. MY STALLION’S NIGHTMARE. LOVE’S NEVER FAIR. |
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HESTER
BACK THEN, YOUR SMILE COULD TAKE MY STRENGTH AWAY. JACK WHAT IF I’VE FORGOTTEN... |
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HESTER
HOW WE SLEEP, ASIDE, A LENGTH AWAY. PLASTER PONIES NEVER DIED, TOGETHER WE RIDE, TOGETHER WE RIDE. I’LL SUN IN THE SUN IN THE SALTY AIR WITH YOU. THE FEEL OF YOUR HAZEL HAIR. THE STALLION AND THE STALLION’S MARE. A DAY AT THE-- WE’LL STAY AT THE-- A DAY AT THE FAIR. |
JACK
HOW? START AGAIN STARTING NOW. THE PLASTER PONIES NEVER DIED, TOGETHER WE RIDE, TOGETHER WE RIDE. THE SUN, AND THE SALT, AND THE AREA THAT’S ABOVE YOUR DERRIERE. MY STALLION’S MARE, PLEASE STAY WITH ME. STAY FINE AND STAY MINE AND STAY FINE AND FAIR. |