The Music Man

The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with the cash.

Harold Hill

• "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you're left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering."

• "A man can't turn tail and run just because a little personal risk is involved. What did Shakespeare say? 'Cowards die a thousand deaths, the brave man... only 500'? "

• "It means, that America has finally produced a genius who can play the minute waltz in 50 seconds!"

• "Never allow the demands of tomorrow to interfere with the pleasure and excitement of today."

well we all know that none of this is true and monkeys are blue:)

Dialogue

• Harold: Gentlemen you intrigue me. I think I'll have to give Iowa a try.
  Charlie: Don't believe I caught your name.
  Harold: (holds up suitcase with his name on it) I don't believe I dropped it.

• Harold: Fine looking animal.
  Townsman 1: For a horse, yeah.
  Harold: (walks off and tries again) Good morning neighbor. Could you kindly direct me which way is the center of town?
  Townsman 2: (looks at him) Runs right down the middle of the street.
  Harold: (tips hat and walks off) Excuse me friend. Where would I find a good hotel?
  Townsman 3: Try the Palmer house in Chicago.
  Harold: (walks away again) Good morning neighbor. I'm a stranger in your town, what do you folks do around here for excitement?
  Undertaker: Mind our business.

• Marsellus: The billiard parlor's just put in a new pool table.
  Harold: They never had a pool table before?
  Marsellus: No, only Billiards.

Others

• "It's Capulets like you that make blood in the market place, Ye Gods!"
  • Zaneeta Shinn

• "You watch your phrasology!"
  • Mayor Shinn

• "I can't believe I almost missed this oppourtunity! Wait a minute... I haven't got any son!"
  • Mayor Shinn

Songs

• "Ever meet a fella by the name of Hill?
  Hill?
  Hill?
  Hill?
  Hill?
  Hill?
  Hill?
  Hill?
  Hill.
  NO!"
  • Rock Island

• "But what the heck? You're welcome! Join us at the picnic, you can have your fill of all the food you bring yourself."
  • Iowa Stubborn

• "All I want is a plain man
  All I want is a modest man
  A quiet man, a gentle man
  A straightforward and honest man
  to sit with me
  In a cottage
  Somewhere in the state of Iowa
  And I would like him to be
  More interested in me
  Than he is in himself
  And more interested in us
  Than in me."
  • My White Knight

• "Trouble. I'm talkin' 'bout trouble, with a capital 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for pool."
  • Ya Got Trouble

• "Why sure, I'm a billiard player, certainly, I'm mighty proud to say it, always mighty proud to say it! I consider the hours that I spend with a cue in my hand are golden!It helps you cultivate a horse sense. A cool head, and a keen eye. Now folks, let me tell you what i mean. You got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 pockets on a table! Pockets that mark the difference between a gentleman and a bum! That's a capital B THat rhymes with P that stands for pool!"
  • Ya Got Trouble

• Seventy-six trombones led the big parade.
  • Seventy-six Trombones