The Schmuel Song

Jamie

First, a story. A little christmas story.

I call it "the story of schmuel, tailor of klimovich"

Schmuel would work till half-past ten at his tailor shop in klimovich

Get up at dawn and start again with the hems and pins and twist

Forty-one years had come and gone at his tailor shop in klimovich

Watching the winters soldier on, there was one thing schmuel missed

"If I only had time," old schmuel said

"I would build the dress that's in my head

A dress to fire

The mad desire

Of girls from here to minsk

But I have no more hours left to sew"

Then the clock upon the wal began to glow...

And the clock said:

"Na na na na, na na na

Oh schmuel, you'll get to be happy!

Na na na na, na na na

I give you unlimited time!

Na na na na, na na na

So schmuel, go sew and be happy!"

But schmuel said

"No, no, it's not my lot

I've gotta make do witht he time I've got"

Schmuel was done at half-past ten and he said "good night, old klimovich"

Put on his coat to go, but then the clock cried, "wait! Not yet!

Even though you're not wise or rich

You're the finest man in klimovich

Listen up, schmuel

Make one stitch and you'll see what you get"

But schmuel said

"Clock, it's much too late

I'm at peace with life

I accept my fate..."

But the clock said

"Schmuel! One stitch and you will

Unlock the dreams you've lost!"

So schmuel, with reluctance, took his thread

He pulled a bolt of velvet and said

"I should take out my teeth and go to bed

I'm sitting her with talking clocks instead!"

And the clock said:

"Na na na na, na na na

Oh schmuel, you'll get to be happy!

Na na na na, na na na,

I give you unlimited time

Na na na na, na na na

Just do it and you can be happy!"

So schmuel put the thread through the needle's eye

And the moon stared down from a starless sky

And he pushed the thread through the velvet black

And he looked, and the clock was turning...back

So he grabbed his shears and he cut some lace

As the hands moved left on the old clock's face

And his fingers flew and the fabric swirled

It was nine-fifteen all around the world

Every cut and stitch was a perfect fit

As if god himself were controlling it!

And schmuel cried through a rush of tears

"Take me back! Take me back all forty-one years!"

And on it went down that silent street

Till schmuel's dress was at last complete

And he stretched his arms

And he closed his eyes

And the morning sun finally started to rise

And the dress he made on that endless night

Was a dress that would make any soul take flight

Not a swatch, not a skein had gone to waste

Every ribbon and button ideally placed

And swen into the seams were forty-one seasons of dreams

Dreams that you could feel

Coming real

And that very dress, so the papers swore

Was the dress a girl in odessa wore

On the day she promised forevermore

To love a young man named schmuel

Who only one day before

Had knocked at her kitchen door

Plenty have hoped and dreamed and prayed

But they can't get out of klimovich

If schmuel had been a cute goyishe maid

He'd've looked a lot like you

Maybe it's just that you're afraid to go out on to a limb-ovich

Maybe your heart's completely swayed

But your head can't follow through

But shouldn't I want the world to see

The brilliant girl who inspires me?

Don't you think that now's a good time to be

The ambitious freak you are?

Say goodbye to wiping ashtrays at the bar

Say hello to cathy hiatt, big-time star!

'Cause I say:

Na na na na na na na na

Cathy, you get to be happy!

Na na na na na na na

I give you unlimited time!

Na na na na na na na

Stop temping and go and be happy!

Here's a headshot guy and a new backstage

Where you're right for something on every page

Take a breath

Take a step

Take a chance

Take your time

Have I mentioned today

How lucky I am

To be in love with you?!