Many a New Day
Encyclopedia
Many a New Day is a song from the musical Oklahoma!
, written by Richard Rodgers
and Oscar Hammerstein II
.
"Many a New Day" is sung by Laurey immediately after Curly McLain leaves the scene with Gertie Cummings. Laurey ostensibly does not care that Curly is with a new girl, though it is obvious she is hurt, especially as shown by the slow restatement of the final lines at the end.
The song, like many of its era and like many others by Rodgers and Hammerstein, follows some variant of the Verse + AABA structure, a traditional song layout from the Tin Pan Alley era. Also true to form, the economically constructed melody spans only a ninth. The sequence-driven B section ("Never have I wept into my tea," &c.) is exemplary of Rodgers' writing, and similar progressions can be found in songs such as "I Cain't Say No."
In the intro verse, Laurey sings about what she does after a romance, to prove that she is not upset.
"I'll snap my fingers to show I don't care,
I'll buy me a brand-new dress to wear.
I'll scrub my neck and I'll brush my hair,
And start all over again."
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
, written by Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
and Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
.
"Many a New Day" is sung by Laurey immediately after Curly McLain leaves the scene with Gertie Cummings. Laurey ostensibly does not care that Curly is with a new girl, though it is obvious she is hurt, especially as shown by the slow restatement of the final lines at the end.
The song, like many of its era and like many others by Rodgers and Hammerstein, follows some variant of the Verse + AABA structure, a traditional song layout from the Tin Pan Alley era. Also true to form, the economically constructed melody spans only a ninth. The sequence-driven B section ("Never have I wept into my tea," &c.) is exemplary of Rodgers' writing, and similar progressions can be found in songs such as "I Cain't Say No."
In the intro verse, Laurey sings about what she does after a romance, to prove that she is not upset.
"I'll snap my fingers to show I don't care,
I'll buy me a brand-new dress to wear.
I'll scrub my neck and I'll brush my hair,
And start all over again."