FINISHING THE HAT: “The Secret of Happiness” – A Conversation with Paul Gordon
Sweeping romantic epics have been a part of the American musical theater pantheon since its inception. Show Boat may have launched that ship (pun very much intended), and since then they’ve come to be defined by Les Miserables. Rarely can a writer create epic works like Les Miz and also intimate musicals with equal sweep and passion. Tony Nominee Paul Gordon is one such voice.
Gordon co-wrote the Tony-nominated score for JANE EYRE and the 2011 Ovation Award-winning Daddy Long Legs, which is currently enjoying an Off-Broadway run. Paul is also the composer of Sense and Sensibility and Analog and Vinyl. Recently, Paul spoke to me about a song from Daddy Long Legs called “The Secret of Happiness.”
THE STORY: Based on the classic novel – a beloved story in the spirit of Jane Austen, the Brontë Sisters, and Downton Abbey – this heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty and winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor has charmed audiences of all ages from Los Angeles to London. Critics are calling it “an exquisite gem of a musical” and “one of the most enthralling, entertaining and moving love stories on the American musical theater stage.”
THE SET-UP: The show’s heroine, Jerusha, discovers the source and inspiration for happiness – and it’s simpler (and equally more complicated) than she ever imagined.
THE LYRIC:
As I watched him go, I thought about today. You know, Daddy, it isn’t the big troubles in life that require character. Anyone can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh – I really think that requires spirit.
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
LEARNING HOW TO GLIDE
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
JUST ENJOY THE RIDE
DON’T LET THE JOURNEY BE TAINTED BY PRIDE AND
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
NOT TO MOURN THE PAST
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
NOT TO RUN TOO FAST
YOU CAN STILL BEAT THEM BY COMING IN LAST ’CAUSE
THE SECRET
THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS…
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
NOT TO BE AFRAID
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
ALL ILLUSIONS FADE
DON’T FEAR THE FUTURE YOU’LL JUST BE DELAYED
’CAUSE
THE SECRET
THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS…
LIVING IN THE NOW
LIVING IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO BLINK
I THINK IS HOW
WE’RE MEANT TO BE LIVING
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
FOLLOWING MY WILL
I’VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS
THOUGH WE CAN RUN THAT HILL
HAPPINESS COMES WHEN WE LEARN TO BE STILL AND
THE SECRET
THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS…
THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS CLEAR
THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS NEAR
THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS IS HERE
THE BREAKDOWN:
DB: Tell us a little about the creation of the lyric generally.
PG: John Caird had given me the novel of Daddy Long Legs to read to see if I thought it might make a good musical. The book was written by Jean Webster, a great-grand-niece of Mark Twain, and I was instantly taken with the book and its progressive female protagonist, Jerusha Abbot. Since the novel was written in 1908, I was particularly struck by one line from the book: “I’ve discovered the true secret of Happiness, and that is to live in the now.” I had recently read Eckhart Tolle’s book The Power of Now, and I was immediately taken with how wonderfully modern Jean Webster’s take on the world was. And I knew I was about to write a song called “The Secret of Happiness” and that’s what made me want to write this show in the first place, because I loved that idea so much.
DB: Was there a rhythm pattern you were looking to achieve in this song? What was the goal of the flow of the text?
PG: I knew the first line of the song was going to be: “I’ve discovered the secret of happiness is — .” (And I knew eventually I was going to answer that question with “living in the now.”) When I write a lyric, I may not always have the melody in my head when I start, but I must have a rhythmic pattern. Fortunately, I record every musical idea I write on my “record” app on my phone — and I found a fragment of a song I’d written on guitar months earlier — and the phrase “I’ve discovered the secret of happiness is learning how to glide” fit PERFECTLY on a musical fragment I’d already written (I love when that happens). So from the there, the lyrical pattern was determined by music. But I like having that kind of structure when I write lyrics. It helps to focus me.
DB: Thematically, where does the lyric reach its “moment” – meaning, is there a particular line that serves as the heartbeat of the song?
PG: In this particular case, the payoff lyric is in the bridge — which is unusual. That’s where I was able to say “The secret of happiness is living in the now.” The whole song is leading up to this point — so the challenge became, what do we say after that? But actually “happiness” in this context was a wonderful subject to explore. I could have written many more verses about the simple ways in which we can find our own sense of joy, but the structure of the lyric is slightly unusual in that it’s not a “story” song, but rather an essay of Jerusha’s newfound philosophical musings.
DB: If you had the chance to re-write this lyric knowing what you know now, what, if anything, would you do differently?
PG: Well actually, I did have the chance, as we recently finished previews (and are now in performances) for Daddy Long Legs at the Davenport Theater. (Shameless plug.) So far, we have not felt any need to alter the lyric. But don’t worry, John Caird is keeping me very busy rewriting lots of other lyrics.
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