Lyrics You - Stephen Sondheim

You

Never let a chance go by, Hollis
Don’t you see that here’s your chance?
How to stoke the fire
Is the problem in acquiring a patron
Every patron has a matron
Let her feel fulfilled
Trust me she’ll be thrilled
Once she sees the house
That I’m going to build
And you’ll get your guild…
Aunt Eva, Uncle Edward, allow me to introduce you to your new house
(The hotel vanishes and a house appears.)
Look at it!
(The house moves into place.)
Look at it, look at it!
(spoken)
Oh, Hollis, darling, you may put me at the head of the list of sponsors for
your artist colony.
You may even name the administration building the Eva—and
Edward—Stotesbury Building.
If Mr. Mizner will design it, of course
Just as soon as my… schedule permits…
You…
Where have you been all my life?
You…
You’re the answer to my prayers
You…
You’re one in a million
You…
Where have you been all my life?
Look at it
Look at it
Notice the detail
Remember the breakfast nook?
Look at it
Look at it
(spoken)
What’s that?
It’s enormous
Wait til Edith Trumbauer sees it…
Now about that administration building—
Hollis.
Bessamer
Hello, Edith
Where’s this Michaelangelo you’ve found for your Aunt Eva?
Mr. Mizner,
the house you built Eva is a work of art!
You must build me one exactly like
it!
No
No?
No, it has to be something for you
(sung)
I see cypress arches, mosaic floors
Reminiscent of the conquistadors
I see colonnades
In a hundred shades
With a Roman cloister
To house the maids
I see—
(Addison waves his building plans and a new mansion appears and begins moving
into place.)
Lovely, isn’t it?
(Her husband nods and starts to write a check.)
(To Hollis)
You…
You’re the answer to my prayers
Lovely, absolutely lovely!
You…
You’re one in a million
Edith, I’m sure Aunt Eva’s told you about this artist’s colony—
Yes, yes, yes, but why is mine smaller than hers?
(Edith's husband stops writing the check and Addison’s face falls)
…that's merely the west wing…
(Hollis nods at Addison, who alters his plans, and another part of the mansion
appears.
Edith smiles and the music resumes.)
You…
Where have you been all my life?
You…
They have the money—
We—
Both have a dream
Me, too
Who knew
That you’d come into my life?
Where have you been?
You…
Where have you been all my life?
You…
You have the vision—
We—
Both have a dream
Me…
I’d say we’re a team
Who knew
That you’d come into my life?
Where have you been?
Hollis Bessemer!
Lily Cosden.
I know, say hello to Addie Mizner
My Joshua’s been very naughty, Addie.
He insists on giving me one of your
handsome houses for my birthday
When’s your birthday?
March tenth!
I’ll… see what I can do…
Make it like Edith Trumbauers', only in blue
Blue is for Norwegians dearie
Blue is not you
No?
No!
You’re a hacienda
A happy fusion of
Indonesian
And Andalusian
I see gingerbread
I see Chinese red
And a huge Victorian potting shed—
Fine, fine, just as long as it’s finished by March 10th
(Sung under his breath)
And a pond where you can go soak your head…
Uh, happy birthday!
(A new mansion appears.)
Look at it, look at it
Their house has a view of the ocean
Addison, such a view of the ocean
Yes, but yours has the acreage
Yours has the privacy
Yours has the cupola
The cupola?
The cupola
That Addie’s just designed for you!
Looking down on the Cosdens and out at the ocean!
Down on the Cosdens!
And out at the ocean!
You…
Yoo-hoo, Mr. Mizner, a house for me!
We’ll take two
Make that three
A house for Mrs. DuPont
Pardon me, I was next
A house for Mrs. Wanamaker
I see minarets
I see parapets
I see gargoyles!
A house for Mrs. Fipps
Grottos!
Another house for Mrs. Fipps
A house for me!
A house for us!
A house for them!
A house for me!
Us!
Them!
Us!
You…
Where have you been all my life?
You…
Where have you been all our lives?
You…
You’re the answer to my prayers
You’re the answer to our prayers
We…
Will make a paradise here
You’re one in a million
And with your permission
And your ambition
And their tradition
Of acquisition
We’ll build a place where
{ALL]
A brand new world can play
Where have you been all my life?
Don’t go away!
Yes, but theirs has a floating gazebo!