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Sondheim: "Dick Tracy"

 Seeing "Mufasa," with its Lin-Manuel flavor, I was reminded of one of my favorite movie scores, for "Dick Tracy." I have no idea why Sondheim consented to write the music, but his writing is much better than the film he is involved with; it seems effortless, and it seems to say, Go ahead and give me an Oscar if you feel like it. (Sondheim did win an Oscar.)


In his "I Am" song, Dick Tracy bubbles with happiness.

Live alone and like it--
Free as the birds in the trees...
High above the briars...
Live alone and like it--
Doing whatever you please...
When your heart desires...
Free to hang around or
FLY...at any old time...

Dick is a delighted bachelor--unentangled. In an apparent nod to his mentor, Hammerstein (king of sparrow/lark/wing analogies), Sondheim writes of a "bird above the briars."

Channeling Bobby, from "Company," Sonhdeim goes on to use a series of "sound" metaphors:

No equivocation--
Most of all, no guarantees:
That can be your motto.
Free of obligation...
Only the murmuring breeze...
As an obligato...
Live alone and like it.
Why is that such a crime?

The pairing of "obligation" and "obligato" tells us all we need to know about Dick Tracy: This is a smart, savvy man, and he is good company.

You can sense the writer enjoying himself; the lines are a pleasure, start to finish.

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