Being Alive
Judy Kaye, Rosalie Craig, Stephen Sondheim, Liz Callaway, Angela Lansbury, George Hearn, Cris Groenendaal, Steven Jacob, Victoria Mallory, Bob Gunton, Company
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Someone to hold me too close. Someone to hurt me too deep. Someone to sit in my chair, And ruin my sleep, And make me aware, Of being alive. Being alive. Somebody need me too much. Somebody know me too well. Somebody pull me up short, And put me through hell, And give me support, For being alive. Make me alive. Make me alive. Make me confused. Mock me with praise. Let me be used. Vary my days. But alone, Is alone, Not alive. Somebody crowd me with love. Somebody force me to care. Somebody let me come through, I'll always be there, As frightened as you, To help us survive, Being alive. Being alive. Being alive!
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Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
8 facts about this song
Composer and Lyricist - Stephen SondheimThe masterpiece song "Being Alive" is a composition of the highly regarded musical genius, Stephen Sondheim.
- Sondheim is known for his contributions to musical theatre, with "Being Alive" being one of his most popular musical numbers from his Broadway show "Company" (1970).
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Original Broadway Performance - Dean JonesWhile Whiting and LuPone have made significant renditions, it’s worth noting that Mr. Dean Jones was the first to perform "Being Alive" on Broadway.
- In the original Broadway production of "Company," the character Robert, played by Dean Jones, delivers the song as a heart-wrenching finish to the show.
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Performance - Margaret WhitingMargaret Whiting, a popular American singer of standard pop music, has rendered her version of "Being Alive.”
- The song notably features in one of her albums, “Too Marvelous for Words," released in 1995.
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Rendition - Patti LuPoneBroadway actress and singer Patti LuPone's rendition of "Being Alive" has earned her critical acclaim.
- LuPone performed the song in the 2006 revival of "Company", where she played the character Joanne and received a Tony nomination.
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Song Theme"Being Alive" is a heartfelt song that discusses the complexities of relationships and the intense desire for companionship and intimacy, despite its many difficulties.
- As the climactic number of "Company," it symbolizes the protagonist’s transformation from a commitment-phobic bachelor to realizing the need for a meaningful, emotional connection.
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Notable Recordings and PerformancesThe song has captured hearts through various interpretations by several renowned artists like Streisand, Groban, and Bonham Carter, apart from Whiting and LuPone.
- Various stagings of "Company" at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center and the New York Philharmonic have also featured the song.
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Recognition"Being Alive," as part of the "Company," helped Sondheim win the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the 1971 Tony Award for Best Original Score.
- The song itself has been praised as one of the greatest theatre songs ever.
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Cultural Impact"Being Alive" has permeated into popular culture over time, with its lyrics quoted and referenced in several films, television shows, and books.
- It has served as an anthem of hope and loneliness, striking a chord with global audiences.
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"Being Alive Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/36256150/Stephen+Sondheim/Being+Alive>.
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