How These Things Start Lyrics - Orsino, Viola

How These Things Start Lyrics

How These Things Start Song Lyrics

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ORSINO
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT I OUGHT TO SAY?
HOW I MIGHT BEGIN
TO WIN MY WAY INTO HER HEART?
I HAVE TRIED SO LONG,
BUT EV'RYTHING I DO SEEMS WRONG.
SO HOW DO THESE THINGS START?

VIOLA
I have no particular skill, my Lord.

ORSINO
YOU COULD TELL ME JUST THE OPENING LINE.
HELP ME FOR A WHILE,
AND I'LL BE FINE PLAYING THE PART.
I'VE THOUGHT ALL ABOUT
EVERYTHING FROM THERE ON OUT.
BUT HOW DO THESE THINGS START?

VIOLA
YOU'D SAY HELLO.

ORSINO
HELLO?

VIOLA
HOW ARE YOU?

ORSINO
HOW ARE YOU...

VIOLA
YOU'D SAY I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

ORSINO
I KNOW -
NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

VIOLA
SO THEN YOU ASK.

ORSINO
I ASK WHAT?

VIOLA
ABOUT HER FEELINGS.

ORSINO
AH, YES, I REMEMBER NOW - HER FEELINGS!

VIOLA
ALL YOU NEED ARE SIMPLE WORDS AT FIRST.
IF YOU LET EACH ONE
BE UNREHEARSED - SPEAK FROM YOUR HEART.
TRY TO BE HER FRIEND,
AND WHO KNOWS WHERE IT ALL MAY END.
BUT THAT'S HOW THESE THINGS START.

ORSINO
I'D SAY HELLO.

VIOLA
HELLO.

ORSINO
HOW ARE YOU?

VIOLA
STILL SAD, MY LORD. AND YOU?

ORSINO
I'M WELL.
WELL, NO.
FOR TRUTH TO TELL,
MY HEART IS WRACKED BY LOVE
THAT GROWS DEEPER DAY BY DAY
AND FILLS ME WITH SUCH FEELINGS...
- BUT I'D RATHER HEAR ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS

VIOLA
Good.
(sings)
HOW IT HAPPENS WHO COULD EVER TEACH?

ORSINO
TWO BEGIN A TUNE,

VIOLA AND ORSINO
AND SOON THEY EACH FIND THEIR OWN PART.
IMPROVISE IN RHYME,
MAKING SONG IN PERFECT TIME.

ORSINO
THEN IT STARTS.

VIOLA
THEN IT STARTS.

VIOLA AND ORSINO
WHO KNOWS HOW?

VIOLA
WHO KNOWS WHY?

ORSINO
WHO KNOWS WHEN?
BUT IT STARTS...

VIOLA
MAYBE NOW...

ORSINO
NOW, I SEE I'VE BEEN UNWISE,
AND ALL THE WHILE YOUR EYES SAW THROUGH ME,
THEY SAW RIGHT THROUGH ME
TO HOW MY FOOLISHNESS WAS FEAR
OF LETTING YOU COME NEARER TO ME.
YES, I TRIED MY BEST TO HIDE MY HEART AWAY,
BUT YOU ALWAYS KNEW ME.
(speaks)
What would she say to that?

VIOLA
Who?

ORSINO
Olivia, of course.

VIOLA
Oh. I'm sure she would receive it well, my Lord.

ORSINO
Don't flatter me, Sebastian. I know I haven't the gift for this kind of talk.

VIOLA
No, you spoke very well.

ORSINO
With your guidance, perhaps. Left to my own devices, I would no doubt fare miserably. But you, you have such a delicacy in
your manner, Sebastian. I know she would be pleased by it. You will go to the Lady Olivia and plead my suit to her.

VIOLA
Oh, no my Lord, I don't think that would work. It is your heart that must plead -

ORSINO
You know it better than I do myself. This afternoon you will go to her and play this same scene that we have rehearsed.

VIOLA
But, my Lord -

ORSINO
Go to it, then.

VIOLA
I'll do my best to win your lady.
(sings)
SOMETHING HAPPENS, QUICKER THAN A WINK,
SUDDEN, BUT SUBLIME.
NO TIME TO THINK WHETHER IT'S SMART,
NO WAY FOR YOU TO TELL
IF IT ALL WILL TURN OUT WELL.
BUT THAT'S HOW THESE THINGS START.

[Thanks to Sara for lyrics]