September Song (1945)

Lyrics

[STUYVESANT] When I was a young man courting the girls I played me a waiting game If a maid refused me with tossing curls I'd let the old earth take a couple whirls While I plied her with tears in place of pearls And as time came around, she came my way As time came around, she came But it's a long, long while From May to December And the days grow short When you reach September And I have lost one tooth And I walk a little lame And I haven't got time For the waiting game And the days turn to gold As they grow few September, November And these few golden days I'd spend with you These golden days I'd spend with you When you meet with a young man early in spring They court you in song and rhyme They woo you with words and a clover ring But if you examine the goods they bring They have little to offer but the songs they sing And a plentiful waste of time of day A plentiful waste of time But it's a long, long while From May to December Will a clover ring last 'Til you reach September? And I'm not quite equipped For the waiting game But I have a little money And I have a little fame And the days dwindle down To a precious few September, November And these few precious days I'd spend with you These precious days I'd spend with you (spoken) So you, you see how it is, my dear? [TINA, spoken] Yes sir, I do see, but there was someone else— [STUYVESANT, spoken] Was there? [TINA, spoken] Yes, but I'll tell him if I have to. I know that when it comes to marriage, a maiden must obey the orders of her parents.  [STUYVESANT, spoken] Fine, fine. You see, no trouble at all. Burghers? Dames? Citizens? Maidens? Come, rejoice all. Corlear, sound the trumpet.  [Trumpet fanfare.] Announce the band. Everybody dance! [CROWD dances.] Stop! Stop the music! Stop the dancing! *Sniff*, ah. Somewhere among you I smell defiance. Someone among you harbors rebellion and dissatisfaction. You, Brom Broeck. If I had not saved your life an hour ago, I should say it emanated from you.  [BROM, spoken] It does all right.  [STUYVESANT, spoken] You find my regime unwelcome? [BROM, spoken] I certainly do.  [TINA, spoken] Oh, Brom, you owe your life to him. Please don't make trouble.  [STUYVESANT, spoken] Kindly note, young man, that all I ask of any citizen is that he subscribe fully and freely to my policies as announced. Can you do that? [BROM, spoken] I'm afraid— [STUYVESANT, spoken] I say, can you do that? Because I *sniff* still smell you very strongly.  [BROM, spoken] Well I, I don't know how to explain, I'm probably all wrong, but this is supposed to be a democracy.  [STUYVESANT, spoken] Democracy? What's a democracy? [BROM, spoken] It's uh, it's where you're governed by amateurs. It's a free country.  [STUYVESANT, spoken] Enough! Arrest him! [BROM, spoken] Aren't you even going to give me a trial? [STUYVESANT, spoken] Trial? When a man's guilty, what the devil good's a trial? To jail with him! We'll deal with his case later! And the rest of you! Are these the proper faces for merriment and gaiety? Let me hear you laugh.  [CROWD laughs.] Laugh! Now sing! Sing, or by the Almighty, I may forget myself!