Tango Ballad - The Threepenny Opera

The Tango Ballad from Manlius Pebble Hill High School Players' production of The Threepenny Opera.


Lyrics

MACHEATH:
There was a time, and now it's all gone by
When we two lived together, she and I
The way we were was just the way to be
I cared for her, and she took care of me
And that arrangement seemed to work perfectly

A sailor would appear, I got out of bed
Went out and had a beer, he'd crawl in instead
And when he paid his bill, back in bed I'd climb
Say "Goodnight my friend!"
"Thank you, anytime!"

And so we lived, me and my little mouse
In that snug two-by-four that we called house.

JENNY:
That was a time, and now it's all gone by
When we were poor but happy, he and I
But when the night no customer would bring
Then we would fight, he'd yell: "Give back my ring!"
A ring is nice, no doubt
It's been done without

But when he drank too much, I'd get kind of grim
And shout the house down how I stood a clown like him
And then he'd turn around in bed and bite my arm
And I'd kick him in the teeth, meaning no harm

It was so sweet to be his little spouse
In that foul two-by-four where we played house.

BOTH:
Oh happy time, and now it's all gone by
Until we quit each other, you and I

JENNY:
We had our love by day, and don't you smirk!

MACHEATH:
The nights I'd say were strictly meant for work!
It's better at night, they say
It ain't bad by day...

JENNY:
But then one time I felt inside a little stir..

MACHEATH:
...It looked like soon I'd be taking care of her!

JENNY:
Did you suppose that it was all my private plan? You left me flat!

MACHEATH:
Well I just ain't a family man.

BOTH:
We locked the door and each commenced to roam
Goodbye sweet two-by-four that we called home.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Threepenny
• Three
• Penny
• Opera
• MPH
• Kurt
• Weill
• Bertolt
• Brecht

[NolenOttinger]

Good job, kids! This reminds me of my college days when I was in "Threepenny". This version (book & music) sounds like the one we used 32 years ago. The minimalist sets are very similair to ours, too. It's good to know that modern directors understand that the correct tempo for these songs is VERY important (there are BAD exceptions elsewhere on YouTube). Again, good job to all involved in this production!

[raindropsonroses6]

@NolenOttinger Thank you so much!

[PainMonkey]

This isn't the normal Eng. translation is it? Sounds kinda like the version from the movie "Mack the Knife".

[raindropsonroses6]

@PainMonkey it's the original translation. although i have not seen the movie, i am pretty sure that many of the older versions, specifically before the broadway revival, went with this translation. that being said, there were always many different versions of the script floating around.

[NolenOttinger]

Good job, kids! This reminds me of my college days when I was in "Threepenny". The minimalist sets are very similair to ours. It's good to know that modern directors understand that the correct tempo for these songs is VERY important (there are BAD exceptions elsewhere on YouTube). Again, good job to all involved in this production!

[aFigureOfSpeech]

...Wow. This brings back memories. XD

[raindropsonroses6]

hello, high school musical theater.

[clickclack357]

Owned!

[audreycardew]

theyre not doing it intentionally

[davidts15]

exactly, they're doing it intentionally making them good actors, that's why I put "bad" in quotations