from the musical DAD AND MOM
This lyric comes after Ted, the lead character, has broken up with his longtime live-in girlfriend,
Sonia, and tries to capture a finality in a moment and an object. The show interweaves Ted’s
childhood with his present-day 20-something self and traces his emotional development in song. –J. Linn Allen
SONIA’S COMING
COMING FOR THIS DRESS
AND ALL THE OTHER PARTS OF HER SHE LEFT LAST WEEK
AND WANTS TO REPOSSESS
SHE’LL PACK IT UP AND LEAVE NO TRACE BEHIND
EXCEPT SOME FABRIC IN MY MIND.
THIS WAS THE DRESS
THE DRESS SHE WORE WHEN I SAW HER FIRST
RUNNING FROM ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER
IN THE THEATER LOBBY AS IF HER HEAD WOULD BURST
FROM THE ENERGY OF BEING YOUNG, AND SO PRETTY
THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE CITY
THIS IS THE DRESS THAT SWEPT HER ALONG
GIVING HER MOTION AND LIGHTNESS AND JOY
GIVING HER ALL A GIRL MEANS TO A BOY–
THE THRILL, THE STRANGENESS, THE SPIRIT,
THE WONDER OF JUST BEING NEAR IT.
WHY DOES SHE WANT IT BACK?
IT’S JUST A SCRAP OF CLOTH
A MOUTHFUL FOR A HUNGRY MOTH
I GAVE IT MEANING BY LOVING HER IN IT
FEELING MY HEART BREAK AND HEAL IN A MINUTE
NOW IT’S AN OUTEDATED DRESS
A MEANINGLESS RAG IN THE MESS OF A TANGLED PAST
NOT MEANT TO LAST.
WHY DO YOU WANT IT BACK?
IT’S JUST A SCRAP OF CLOTH
A MOUTHFUL FOR A HUNGRY MOTH
I GAVE IT MEANING BY LOVING YOU IN IT
FEELING MY HEART BREAK AND HEAL IN A MINUTE
NOW IT’S AN OUTEDATED DRESS
A MEANINGLESS RAG IN THE MESS
OF A TANGLED PAST
NOT MEANT TO LAST.