Story Behind The Song

As of 2/13/07, this is one of 68 semi-finalists (of 450+ entries) in the 2007 songwriters contest sponsored by www.itoiministries.org, promoting positive spiritual music for all faiths.

Song Description

A comical patter song, a la Bette Midler or Bernadette Peters. A whimsical look at how we each play actor, writer and director of our own life movie, that it's up to us to create the story we want to create.

Lyrics

I?m The Whole Show

words and music by Laura Derocher


I had a run-in with my producer. I was pitching a bit of a fit.
I was called to act in this movie, but there was something I just didn?t get.
See, I showed up to the studio, but the lot was entirely bare.
I expected a crew to tell me what to do, but I was the only one there.

?Hey!? I yelled to my Producer. He was around, I could sense he was near.
His voice came through in surround sound, ?Laura, can I help you my dear??

Can you help me?! Uh, please!
Listen, where?s my director? And the crew?where did they go?
He said, ?Laura, look in the mirror.
Baby, you?re the whole show.?

CHORUS (version 1):
I?m the whole show? I?m the whole show?
I?m just a lowly actress. How the hell should I know
how to write and direct, cast all the extras?how to make fake snow?
Listen, there?s an escape clause in my contract if I?m the wholeshow.


So I?m looking for that escape clause when my producer takes his tack:
?Laura, if you bail this time, you know you?re just gonna have to come back.
Let me tell you a secret, let me give you your big break.
There?s something you gotta know before you make a huge mistake.?

?See, most people think there?s some director and his crew
calling the shots and building the sets and telling ?em what to do.
Well, that?s just a big illusion, completely overrated.
It really muddies the story, ?cause your story?s how you create it.
Do you get it, Laura??

You know, I was starting to get it!

CHORUS (version 2):
I?m the whole show. I?m the whole show.
I get to choose my wardrobe, What I say and where I go.
I get to cast myself in starring roles. No one can tell me no.
This is a bit intoxicating? I?m the whole show!

I was starting to like the power. My script was starting to gel.
But I wanted to see my producer, you know, to check that all was well.
?Hey, where are you anyway? You gonna stay in the dark and hide??
He said, ?I?m behind, in front, all around you?most of all inside.?
He said, ?Nothing to be alarmed about. See, you?ve never been alone.
Which brings me to my main point, Laur, you?re really not the whole show.?

?I?m not??

?No darlin?, we are. You and me, kid. But we?re so connected,
Go ahead and sing the chorus. It?s fine the way you wrote it.?

CHORUS (version 3, with tag):
I?m the whole show. I?m the whole show!
Where shall I venture? Where shall I go?
As my movie is released, all reviews will glow:
What a great production! A fabulous production!
A blockbuster production!
I?d like to thank the Academy? I?m the whole show!


© 2002 Laura Derocher. All rights reserved.