Lyrics Something Just Broke - Stephen Sondheim, Rob Morrison, Katrina Yaukey

Something Just Broke

I was out
In the yard
Taking down the bed sheets
When my neighbor yelled across:
«The president’s been shot.»
I remember where I was
Just exactly where I was
In the yard out back…
«The president’s been shot.»
I was getting me a shoeshine…
…Folding sheets…
…When I heard…
We were waiting for a carriage…
…Newsboys…
…Suddenly there’s shouting in the street…
…Lizzie's sheet…
«The president’s been shot.»
…I'll remember it forever…
…And I thought:
Where I was, what I was doing…
Something just broke
«The president’s been shot.»
My God
I was up near the ridge
Plowing…
We were working at the plant…
I was halfway through correcting the exams…
…When my wife…
…It was Mike…
…She comes tearing 'cross the field…
…Mike the foreman…
…In runs Billy…
…I mean, he was crying…
…He was crying…
…She was crying…
I’ll remember it forever…
And I thought:
«The president’s been shot.»
You know what?
There are presidents who aren’t worth a lot
I kept thinking:
There’s the kind that gets elected, then forgot
Mr. Garfield
Mr. Lincoln
He’s a hack
Bill McKinley
He’s a giant
He’s a joke
Still, something just broke
«The president is rallying.»
«The president is sinking.»
«The president is dead.»
Something just broke
I was down at the Exchange…
Something just made a little dent
I’d been shopping…
I’d been sick…
Something just broke
All I know, it was a Friday…
Only for a moment
I remember it exactly…
Something got bent
I’m taking the order…
Something just left a little mark
I was getting dressed…
…Two potato soups…
Something just went a little dark
Something just went
And I wondered:
I was scared of…
What would follow…
Something to be mended…
Made me wonder who we are…
…Something we’ll have to weather…
It was seeing all those torches…
…Bringing us all together…
He was me…
He was us…
…If only for a moment…
I’ll remember it forever…
…Nothing has really ended…
Where I was, what I was doing…
…Only just been suspended…
Like a flash…
…'Cause something just stirred…
And I thought
And I thought to myself
And I thought
…Something just woke…
And I thought
I kept thinking
Something just spoke
Something I wish I hadn’t heard
Something bewildering occurred
Fix it up fast
Please
'Til it’s just smoke
'Til it’s only «Something just passed»
Nothing that will last
Where I was, what I was doing
Nothing but the moment
Just an awful moment
But something just—