"Happily Ever After" - Cut from 'Company'

[autopolydidact]

Brilliant writing! I wish this were the end, if only to see how the show plays out with it.

[monkeyroadkill7]

This ending is so much better. It fits with the rest of the show and the rest of Robert's character far more than "Being Alive" does.

Plus it reminds me SO much of Up In The Air.

[horerfandod3]

@AtLastOnTheGrond marry me a little eas the original ending to the show. this song was the secondand being alive is the third and chosen ending.

[monkeyroadkill7]

@horerfandod3 Meh, not quite. "Marry Me a Little" was added as the ending to the first act, but it was never the finale of the show. "A Multitude of Amy's" was the first ending, until it was replaced by this, which was replaced after a few shows by "Being Alive."

[90lysander]

@monkeyroadkill7 To be strictly accurate, this was not intended as the finale either. The last song, yes; the finale, no. It was to be followed by a book scene in which Robert meets a girl in a park and finally connects with her. That was too long and it was cut. It was only then that Happily Ever After became the finale, and too much of a downer. There was always supposed to be an angry reaction to marriage followed by a gesture of openness. Being Alive is the better song and encompasses both.

[horerfandod3]

its hard to believe that this was considered to be the ending. thank god they chose being alive

[pannicatack]

The sheet music is also available in "The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology Vol. 3, Baritone/Bass."

[barbwirejim]

thank you

[BOomeek]

Thank you so much for uploading this, it's a brilliant song!

[1037pm]

Anyone know where I can get a vocal score with piano?!

I want to use this for an audition for Sweeney Todd and I think I might do this (only thing I liked that wasn't from the show)

If you have suggestions thats good too!

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Search for sheet music to "Marry Me A Little" (the revue, not the song).

What part are you auditioning for?

[1037pm]

Sweeney :/

[AtLastOnTheGround]

I definitely wouldn't audition with this song -- It's too bright and high to show off your "Sweeney factor."

Check out "In Praise of Women" from another Sondheim show - 'A Little Night Music.'

[1037pm]

Do you think that piece shows off vocal range enough?

[VRNProductions]

Shows off enough for Sweeney at any rate. If you're still interested in getting this, it's available in the collection "All Sondheim: Volume 3".

[1037pm]

Alright, thank you !

[MUSICALANGIE]

Thank you for this! Recently got much interested in Company, as well as the cut songs. Isn't Craig Lucas the book writer of The Light in the Piazza? I like that show too.

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Yupp - He wrote the book for "Piazza".

And "Company" is SUCH a great show -- One of my favs.

[eveningprim]

god the photo of bernadette and him is just great too

[eveningprim]

thanks for this- it's really interesting to note which ideas he kept in for 'being alive' and just to see the creative process unfolding- this song is great but i can see how the best gems were transformed into 'being alive' to make it a legendary song-

[bohemiawelcumsyou]

"Being Alive" is a more optimistic version of this song, and the self-realization Bobby gets (from "Someone to hold you too close" to "Somebody hold me too close") is more clear and poignant.

But I do love this song a lot.

[SweeneyTodd109]

Thanks for this!

Though personally I prefer 'Being Alive'

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Well, nothing can beat 'Being Alive' : ]

But I have to say that I love this song. It's a little less optimistic than 'Being Alive' but it still includes a (very subtle) epiphany. From when he goes "With no one to hold you too close" to the last "Ever, ever, ever after", he's realizing that his single life isn't as satisfactory as it seems.

[theBestArts]

I hadn't heard this before - thanks for the post.

[AtLastOnTheGround]

No problem! I recently downloaded the "Marry Me A Little" album off of Rhapsody and I heard this song and just loved it, and figured other fellow Sondheim lovers might too.