Finale

Song Meaning

This finale feels like a triumphant, almost chaotic embrace of a new era. The spoken lines set a tone of unexpected outcomes and found treasures, with "green glass love" and "an emerald" suggesting that what was sought might not be what was found, but it's valuable nonetheless. The shift to singing ushers in a celebratory, almost breathless energy. The core of the song is a radical transformation, a "changing and how!" repeated with increasing urgency. It's a shedding of an old identity – the "goody girl" – for something new, something "thoroughly modern." This isn't just a personal change; it's a collective declaration, signaled by the ensemble and company joining in. The most striking element is the rapid-fire, almost breathless declaration of modernity. Phrases like "Hot off the press! One step ahead! Jazz age!" and "Whoopee baby!" capture the exhilarating, slightly dizzying pace of change. The repetition of "I'm changing and how!" hammers home the profound personal and societal shift being celebrated. Ultimately, the lyrics work by creating a sense of overwhelming, joyous momentum. The sheer speed and exclamatory nature of the language, combined with the collective voice, make the listener feel swept up in this "thoroughly modern" moment. It’s less about specific events and more about the exhilarating feeling of arriving at a vibrant, new present.