Stephen Sondheim
Farewell Letter
[CLARA]
Giorgio
I am writing to you, my angel
Though not long since you've been gone
With a most unhappy heart
Because in truth, as time goes on
I think of nothing else but you
And us
Oh my love, my sweet, you've changed
I've watched you change
You're not the man I thought I knew
At times these past few days together
I would wonder whether you were here
Really here with me
I thought was I naïve
To believe
We'd continue year by year
Is it over forever?
(spoken)
When my son is older, when he goes off to school, there is the chance for us to be together. Will you wait for me, Giorgio? I have to know. We both have to know[GIORGIO]
Just another love story
A temporary love story
I thought we had more
We had something more
Than any other love story
Is this what you call love?
This logical and sensible
Practical arrangement
This foregone conclusion
You think that this is love?[CLARA]
No one is to blame
But it needn't end the same
We had
More
Than any other love story
All that happiness
We had then
We can have that happiness
Once again[GIORGIO]
Love isn't so convenient
Love isn't something scheduled in advance
Not something guaranteed
You'll need, for fear it may pass you by
You have to take a chance
You can't just try it out
What's love unless it's unconditional?
Love doesn't give a damn about tomorrow
And neither do I![CLARA]
All that happiness
In the past
That was not just happiness
Love was in that happiness
That's why it will last
I thought I knew what love was
I didn't know that love was a complication
We'll take it in our stride
You decide
We could have everything
I want you more than anything
To wait is nothing
We're young and time is nothing
Nothing
Nothing[GIORGIO]
It was mine
It was yours; you were mine
Love is more; I want more
I thought I knew what love was
I do know that it's not a negotiation
What we had
Wasn't bad
How sad
Then what we have is nothing
Nothing