A Little Night Music: Now / Later / Soon

Now, as the sweet imbecilities
 Tumble so lavishly
 Onto her lap
 Oh, Frederik
 What a day it's been!
 Unending drama
 Now, there are two possibilities
 A, I could ravish her
 B, I could nap
 That grumpy old Miss Nordstrom from next door
 Her sister's coming for a visit
 Say it's the ravishment, then we see
 The option that follows, of course
 I do hope I'm imperious enough with the servants
 I try to be, but half the time I think they're laughing at me
 A, The deployment of charm, or
 B, The adoption of physical force
 (And I've been jabbering on for hours) Now, B might arouse her
 But if I assume I trip on my trouser
 Leg crossing the room
 I can't tell you how boring it was!
 Her hair getting tangled
 Her stays getting snapped
 My nerves would be jangled
 My energy sapped
 You should've seen Mrs. Anning in the fishmonger's!
 Removing her clothing
 Would take me all day
 And her subsequent loathing
 Would turn me away
 Which eliminates B
 And which leaves us with A
 Could you ever be jealous of me?
 Could you? Like - the more offense
 Now, insofar as approaching it
 What would be festive
 But have its effect?
 Shall I learn Italian?
 I think it'd be amusing
 If the verbs aren't too irregular
 Now, there are two ways of broaching it
 A, the suggestive
 And B, the direct
 But then, French is a much chicer language
 Everyone says so! Parlez-vous Francais?
 Say that I settle on B, to wit
 A charmingly lecherous mood
 I know you like my hair this way, but
 On top of my head, like a siren
 A, I could put on my nightshirt or sit
 Disarmingly, B, in the nude
 Oh, Frederik, you should've seen-
 That might be effective
 My body's all right--
 But not in perspective
 And not in the light
 Poor Henrik! How comical he looked
 I'm bound to be chilly
 And feel a buffoon
 But nightshirts are silly
 In mid-afternoon
 Why are virtuous people so stingy?
 Which leaves the suggestive
 But how to proceed?
 Although she gets restive
 Perhaps I could read
 (He gave the coachman the tiniest tip!) In view of her penchant
 For something romantic
 De Sade is too trenchant
 And Dickens too frantic
 And Stendhal would ruin
 The plan of attack
 As there isn't much blue in "The Red and the Black."
 (The poor man) De Maupassant's candour
 Would cause her dismay
 The Brontes are grander
 But not very gay
 Her taste is much blander
 I'm sorry to say
 But is Hans Christian Andersen ever risque?
 Which eliminates A
 And he said, "You're such a pretty lady!"
 Wasn't that silly of me?
 Now, with my mental facilities
 Partially muddied
 And ready to snap
 I'm sure about the bracelet, but earrings -
 Earrings, which earrings?
 Now, though there are possibilities
 Still to be studied, I might as well nap
 Mother's rubies? Oh, the diamonds are - agony -
 Bow
 Though I must
 To adjust
 My original plan
 Desiree Armfeldt
 I just know she wears the most glamorous gowns
 How shall I sleep
 Half as deep
 As I usually can?
 Dear, distinguished old Frederik
 Where now I still want and or love you
 Now as always
 Now, Anne?
 ♪
 Oh Henrik, dear, don't you have anything less gloomy to practice?
 It isn't gloomy
 It's profound
 Well
 Can't you be profound later?
 Later
 When is later?
 All you ever hear is "Later, Henrik"
 "Henrik, later"
 "Yes, we know, Henrik
 Oh, Henrik, everyone agrees, Henrik, please, Henrik!"
 You have a thought you're fairly bursting with
 A personal discovery or problem, and it's
 "What's your rush, Henrik?"
 "Shush, Henrik!"
 "Goodness, how you gush, Henrik!"
 "Hush, Henrik!"
 You murmur
 "I only-- It's just that--"
 "For God's sake, later, Henrik!"
 "Henrik... Who is Henrik?
 Oh, that lawyer's son, the one who mumbles
 Short and boring
 Yes, he's hardly worth ignoring
 And who cares if he's all damned--"
 I beg your pardon--
 "Up inside?"
 As I've often stated
 It's intolerable being tolerated
 "Reassure Henrik
 Poor Henrik
 Henrik, you'll endure
 Being pure, Henrik."
 Though I've been born, I've never been!
 How can I wait around for later?
 I'll be ninety on my deathbead
 And the late, or, rather, later, Henrik Egerman
 Doesn't anything begin?
 ♪
 Soon, I promise
 Soon, I won't shy away
 Dear old--
 Soon, I want to
 Soon, whatever you say
 Even now
 When you're close and we touch
 And you're kissing my brow
 I don't mind it too much
 And you'll have to admit I'm endearing
 I help keep things humming
 I'm not domineering--
 What's one small shortcoming?
 And think of how I adore you
 Think of how much you love me
 If I were perfect for you
 Wouldn't you tire of me?
 Soon
 All too soon
 Dear old--
 ♪
 Henrik, that racket! Your father's sleeping. Later
 ♪
 Soon (Later)
 I promise
 When is later?
 Soon
 Later
 I won't shy away (Henrik, later, all you ever hear is)
 Yes we know Henrik, oh Henrik
 (Everyone agrees, Henrik, please Henrik) Dear old--
 Soon (Now) (Later)
 I want to (As the sweet imbecilities) (When is later, all you ever hear is)
 (Trip from my trouser leg) Soon (later)
 (Stendhal eliminates) (Henrik, later) Whatever you
 (A.) Say (stated)
 When (even) Maybe
 Now
 Soon, soon (later)
 When you're close
 And we touch
 I'll be ninety and dead
 When I'm (you're) kissing your (my) brow
 And I'm stroking your head
 I don't mind it
 Too much
 You'll come into my bed
 And you'll have to admit
 I'm endearing (I find peering) (I've been hearing)
 I help (Through life's) (All those tremulous cries)
 Keep things humming (Grey windows)
 Impatiently (Patiently)
 I'm not (not)
 Domineering (very cheering) (interfering)
 What's one (Do I fear death?) (With those tremulous thighs)
 Small shortcoming?
 And think of how I adore you (Now)
 (Now) Think of how much you love me
 (Now) (Soon) If I were perfect for you
 (Now) (Soon) Wouldn't you tire of me?
 Later? (Come to me soon)
 We will (If I'm dead) (straight to me)
 Later (I can wait) (Never mind how)
 We will (How can I live) (Darling, now)
 Soon (Until later?) (Now)
 I still want and or love you (later) (soon)
 Now as always (later) (soon)
 Now
 Desiree!