Invocation/Forget War

Lyrics

[PROLOGUS] Gods of the theater, smile on us You who sit up there stern in judgment, smile on us You who look down on actors (spoken) And who doesn't? (sung) Bless our little company and smile on us Think not about deep concerns Think not about dark dilemmas [PROLOGUS & COMPANY] We offer you song and dance We offer you rites and revels We offer you jokes and insults We offer you grace and beauty Bless our play and smile [COMPANY] Forget war, forget woe Forget matters weighty and great Allow matters weighty to wait For a while For this moment, this brief time Frown on reason, smile on rhyme Forget pomp, forget show Forget laurels, helmets and crowns Receive lovers, liars and clowns For a while For this moment, this brief span Celebrate the state of man [STEPHEN SONDHEIM, spoken] That was the first part of a song called "Forget War", which was the original opening of Forum when Jerry Robbins was going to direct it. But Jerry decided not to, and he was replaced with George Abbott, and George Abbott didn't like the song. He couldn't hum it, he said. So out it went.