This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the characters Leslie, Muffy and Trudy.

Listen to .mp3 sample of The Argument from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

MUFFY (sings):
He’s a jerk.
He’s a geek.
He’s an imbecilic freak.
TRUDY:
He’s a drudge, a failure,
Laughable.
The loser of the week.
MUFFY and TRUDY:
His nauseating lifestyle
Makes him nothing but a nerd.
To like this guy is simply absurd.
LESLIE:
No he’s not.
He’s the sweetest guy I know.
MUFFY:
No BMW-
TRUDY:
Mercedes Benz-
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Cadillac, Porsche, or Coupe.
His father owns no corporations.
His take home pay is low.
LESLIE:
He may not be a millionaire
In your selective group.
But he’s caring and delightful,
Though he may not be a stud.
But I’ll say one thing.
Zach is not a dud.
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Yes he is.
LESLIE:
No he’s not.
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Yes he is.
LESLIE:
No he’s not!
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Yes he is.
He’s a foolish twit!
LESLIE:
Give him a chance.
What does he have to do?
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Maybe swim an ocean or two
Hundred and twelve!
LESLIE:
Even for an Adonis
That’s a lot to swim.
TRUDY:
So why did you dump him?
MUFFY:
Tell me that!
LESLIE:
I never though of it
In quite that way.
TRUDY:
But you dumped him!
Didn’t she?
MUFFY:
She did.
The only hope you have
Is from that little baby God with the diapers.
Oh, what’s his name?
TRUDY:
Cupid!
(MUFFY giggles.)
MUFFY and TRUDY:
We really think that
You should see other guys in school,
‘Cause face it Leslie.
Zach is a fool.
LESLIE:
No he’s not.
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Yes he is.
LESLIE:
No he’s not.
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Yes he is.
LESLIE:
No he’s not.
MUFFY and TRUDY:
Yes he is.
MUFFY and TRUDY: Is so!
LESLIE:
Is not!

© 2007 Mark S. Meritt; © 1988 Mark S. Meritt and Ed Budd

This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the characters Leslie and Zach.

Listen to .mp3 sample of Maybe from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

LESLIE (sings):
Maybe I was wrong
For being so demanding and unfair to him.
Did I discourage?
Did I impose?
Maybe I was harsh
For threatening him for silly reasons.
I was the villain,
(ZACH enters)
Or so I suppose.
ZACH:
I suppose it’s gone,
Whatever was to be,
But the hope will never die.
Maybe I was foolish.
A senseless misconception.
Was it her?
Was it me?
LESLIE:
Was it me who was selfish?
The modern intellectual.
I should have given more.
LESLIE: Maybe I was scared
Those stubborn and superior notions
I have from my friends
Are cluttering my mind.
ZACH:
I love her
More than life.
When I’m with her
I’m in paradise.
LESLIE:
I didn’t want the pain.
I stayed so deep inside myself
And let nobody in,
Protecting a person
I don’t know.
ZACH:
I don’t know if she’ll change.
LESLIE:
I don’t know if he’ll change.
ZACH and LESLIE:
I don’t know if it’s a change I want.
But we’ll take what happened
In that restaurant,
And then we’ll start to mend.
And maybe it will work out in the end.

© & 2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the characters Susan, Phil, Harriet and George.

Listen to .mp3 sample of It Used to Be So Simple from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

ALL (sing):
In the days when we were young
It didn’t take a lot of work to have some fun.
GALS:
Roller skate ’til after nine.
GUYS:
As long as we got home on time.
ALL:
A chocolate malt from the soda shop.
We do the Alley Cat at the hop.
GALS:
Soft spoken curtsy.
GUYS:
A tip of the hat.
ALL:
Today’s kids don’t want any of that.
What will it take to please them?
What do they need to see?
When we were young
It used to be so simple.
Why can’t they also be?
Sit around the house with nothing to do.
Wake up in the morning to watch the dew.
Spend their lives in idle stagnation.
That’s no way to find relaxation.
Why don’t they plan for the future?
They leave everything to circumstance.
When we were young
It used to be so simple.
If you want to have a real swell time,
Just go to the dance.
(They go into a swinging dance and do the Lindy.)
In one ear, out the other.
I don’t know why we even bother.
They don’t care about a word we say.
And what they do care about
they twist around some other way.
And yet we don’t complain.
A caring understanding couple we remain.
And what do we get for all the love we show?
“Not right now, just leave me alone!”
Why don’t they ever listen?
Why don’t they ever hear?
When we we’re young
It used to be so simple.
But it gets worse every year.

© & 2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the character Leslie.

Listen to .mp3 sample of All of Those Men Are the Same from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

LESLIE (sings):
The conversation was very thin
And it just kept getting thinner.
I never should have said yes to him
When he asked me out to dinner.
It was all just a big mistake
I invited in.
All I did was order lasagna.
Now is that a sin?
Men never give me the respect I want.
I wish they’d get it through their thickheaded brains
That I want to be looked upon
As more than just a stupid dame.
A woman should be more than a household pet.
An animal that’s theirs to tame.
But I know what they’re trying to get
Because all of those men are the same!
I always went in blind and innocent.
I was so naive.
Head over heels you cannot tell
That all they do is deceive.
Even with all this,
I don’t understand why I don’t leave.
I thought I outgrew childhood crushes.
Now I don’t know what to believe.
I’m sick and tired of losing out
And always taking the blame.
They’re so pathetically artificial
It’s enough to drive me insane!
I’ve just about had enough of playing
All the chauvinistic games.
Why do I have to put up with this?
Oh, all of those men are the same!
I always went in blind and innocent.
I was so naive.
Head over heels you cannot tell
That all they do is deceive.
Even with all this,
I don’t understand why I don’t leave.
I thought I outgrew childhood crushes.
Now I don’t know what to believe.
Every relationship I’ve been in
The man had hold of the reigns.
And the only things they gave me
Were anger, heartache, and pain.
Why did I waste my time
When I had nothing to gain?
I’m never gonna do that again
Because all of those men are the same.

© 2007 Mark S. Meritt; © 1988 Mark S. Meritt and Ed Budd

This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the characters Bud and the Immortal Quartet.

Listen to .mp3 sample of Let Her Know from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

Listen to .mp3 sample of Let Her Know (Instrumental).

During college, Mark first gained access to a multitrack tape recorder. Among his first experiments was a new instrumental versions of this song.

2007, 1990 Mark S. Meritt

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

BUD (sings):
Let her know how you feel.
Give her a reason
To feel the way you do
About her day and night.
You’ve got nothing to lose
‘Cause she won’t bite.
Come on, Zach be cool.
Zach don’t be a fool.
Ya gotta let her know tonight.
ZACH: After what happened at the restaurant?
(The IMMORTAL QUARTET enters, and starts “doo-wopping”.)
BUD: Kid, from now on your whole life is after what happened at the restaurant, so there’s no time like the present.
ZACH: Who are they?
BUD: The Immortal Quartet. The most heavenly background singers ever to play the Vegas circuit. They’re dead, but they really like to sing, so they do. Don’t mind them. We’re just having a good time. And that’s exactly what you’re gonna be doing with Leslie, as soon as you get your act straight.
BUD:
Show her how much you care.
If you stay silent
Your feelings might as well be numb.
Show her your savoir faire.
ZACH: But I don’t have any.
BUD:
So we’ll get you some!
You have to take a stand
And show her you’re a man,
‘Cause if you don’t you know you’re just plain dumb.
If you expect her to spend
Every day of her life
Standing by your side
Without you giving her anything
Well, you’re taking yourself for a ride.
You’ve got to trust in her and love her
And I know these things take time,
But if you have the patience you’ll be fine.
HORATIO (entering): Where’s all that music coming from? Who are you?
BUD: I am Cupid! And here is my proof.
HORATIO: Cupid? It is an honor, your immortalship!
BUD: You believe me?
HORATIO: Absolutely! Oh, I must put this in my diary! (exits)
BUD: Darn. I was gonna do a neat trick! Well, back to business. Zach, girls are fickle. Even if you do all this nice, idealistic stuff, she may want some simple things. A bracelet, an ice cream soda, a night of dancing-
ZACH: I can’t dance.
BUD: Can’t dance? I’ll teach you. We’ll start with…a waltz!
(The song goes into a fast waltz as BUD starts waltzing with ZACH, singing along with “Bop bop a doo dee da…” Midway through the instrumental verse, ZACH stops BUD.)
ZACH: I don’t know if I like this.
BUD: Well, then let’s try something else. How about…samba!
Cha cha cha! Cha cha cha! Cha cha cha! Chaa chaa chaa chaaah.
ZACH: I don’t know about this whole dancing thing, Bud.
BUD: Well, then you’re just gonna have to stick with idealism.
BUD:
Give her all your heart
But only with your understanding.
QUARTET:
‘Cause without that you’ll have nothing.
ZACH: You know, you’re absolutely right!
BUD: That’s the attitude!
ZACH: Yeah!
BUD: Yeah!
ZACH: Yeah!
(They look at each other.)
BUD: You psyched?
ZACH: Yes!
BUD: Well, let’s go!
ZACH: Yes!…But it’s midnight.
BUD (pause): So?
ZACH: Yeah!
(They both run out the door as the song builds to an end. The door slams, and:)
BLACKOUT

© 2007 Mark S. Meritt; © 1988 Mark S. Meritt and Ed Budd

This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the characters Leslie and Students.

Listen to .mp3 sample of Springtime in October from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

LESLIE (sings):
Love’s like the sunlight.
It hits you when it’s cold or warm
Outside your door.
And though it’s hit before
You don’t mind.
For any reason
Love can come in any season.
When you find the one
Who’ll always bring the sun
You don’t mind.
It may come only once
So you don’t care what month it’s here.
It’s welcome anytime
So though November is quite near
Springtime can come anytime of year.
STUDENTS:
When you’re in love
The flowers bloom in vibrant colors
Never seen before.
You wonder who they’re for
And they’re for you.
Rainbows that glisten
Are never far if you’ll just listen
To the birds outside.
And the feeling deep inside
Makes dreams come true.
The times we spend together
Couldn’t be to us more dear.
And though the leaves are falling
Through the chilly atmosphere
Springtime can come anytime of year.
(The students go into a dance, almost ballet, which emits a great deal of romance, if that’s possible.)
STUDENTS:
Our skies are always clear
And though October is still here
Springtime can come anytime of year.
Springtime can come anytime of year.
Springtime can come anytime of year.

© & 2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the character Zach.

Listen to .mp3 sample of That’s the Kind of Girl I Like from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

ZACH (sings):
The girl for me is beautiful.
Radiant and cute and full of
Graceful poses,
Bright red roses,
Tasteful clothes and
Other sights but
She has so much more to see
Than make-up done attractively.
She has personality.
That’s the kind of girl I like.
Her mind is as enchanting as
The lovely things her body has.
She has gentility,
Creativity,
Sensitivity,
And intelligence.
She’s brilliant or at least she’s smart.
Able to read most any chart.
But she also has a heart.
That’s the kind of girl I like.
And with all the knowledge
She’s gained in college
She’ll start her own career.
And eventually
We’ll have a family
And she will call me “Dear”
If she wants to.
She’ll never ever frown
And she’ll be happy no matter how
The pie is sliced.
She’s always nice
At any price
And that is why
She’s always so compassionate
And this is the companion that
I’ll stick with through the thin and fat.
That’s the kind of girl I like.
But she won’t be just a friend
And she won’t be just a lover
And it won’t take too long
Until I discover
Stars shining up above.
And that’ll be the girl I love.

© & 2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

This piece is from the score of the original stage musical Cupid’s Arrow. It is performed by the Entire Company.

Listen to .mp3 sample of Graduation Day (Reprise) from the Original Cast Recording.

See the Cupid’s Arrow post for Original Cast Recording performance credits.

2007, 1988 Mark S. Meritt

Note: The full version of this song appears at the end of the play as a “reprise.” The initial appearance of the song at the beginning of the play is essentially an abridged version of the later piece. Thus, the reprise recording is reiterated here. Feel free to stop playing the song at the point where you hit the end of the lyrics below!

Lyrics & Book Excerpt

STUDENTS (sing):
We couldn’t wait for graduation day.
To get our lives and careers on the way.
PARENTS:
We couldn’t wait for graduation day.
Now there’s one less bill that we have to pay.
But now our kids are out on their own.
PARENTS and THEO:
Soon they’ll have a family and a home.
So all we ask for is a weekly chat on the phone.
STUDENTS:
We’ll get a job and settle down.
Find a new place to call “my hometown.”
On the mailbox we’ll put our name.
So everybody will know we came.
We’ll meet the neighbors and wash the car.
Get a few tapes for the VCR.
And it was college that let us get this far.

© 2007 Mark S. Meritt; © 1988 Mark S. Meritt and Ed Budd