Song: “We Don’t Always Get What He’s Got”

 

To set the scene, Shakespeare has just delivered the script for his newest play — at four-plus hours, it’s longer than anything else he’s written and more psychologically complex, too.

His actors don’t know what to make of it.

The play? Hamlet.

The song, sung by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men as they gather in private, is “We Don’t Always Get What He’s Got.”

The roles of all the Lord Chamberlain’s Men are sung by one man – the multi-talented Jacob Sutherland!

Lyrics for “We Don’t Always Get What He’s Got”

 

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MEN

WE DON’T ALWAYS GET WHAT HE’S GOT
THE GENIUS THAT HE SAYS HE IS
THE WORDS THAT COMPLICATE EVERY PLOT
THE GLORY THAT IS ALL HIS

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #3

HE’S GOOD FOR BUSINESS WE MUST ADMIT

SAMUEL GILBOURNE

FAR BE IT FROM US TO GROUSE

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #2

EACH PLAY THAT HE WRITES IS A BLOODY HIT

ALL

WE ALWAYS SELL OUT THE HOUSE

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #1

BUT THIS ONE’S MORE CONFUSING THAN ALL THE REST

EDMUND SHAKESPEARE

THOUGH WE KNOW HIS ART IS HEAVEN-SENT

ALL

WE’D AGREE WITH HIM THAT IT’S ONE OF HIS BEST
IF WE ONLY KNEW WHAT THE DAMN THING MEANT!

WE DON’T ALWAYS GET WHAT HE’S GOT
THE GENIUS THAT HE SAYS HE IS
THE WORDS THAT COMPLICATE EVERY PLOT
THE GLORY THAT IS ALL HIS!

SAMUEL GILBOURNE

HE USES WORDS THAT ARE STRANGE TO US

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #3

IT PAINS US, WE MUST CONFESS

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #2

WE HATE TO MAKE AN UNGRATEFUL FUSS

ALL

BUT CAN’T HE SAY MORE WITH LESS?

EDMUND SHAKESPEARE

WHO STANDS OUT IN ANY CROWD

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #1

WHO GETS ALL THE FAME?

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #2

WHO’S THE ONE WHO ALWAYS AIMS TO PLEASE?

SAMUEL GILBOURNE

HE’S JUST SO WELL-ENDOWED,

LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN #3

HE PUTS US TO SHAME –

ALL

HE’S A MASTER WHO BRINGS US TO OUR KNEES!

WE DON’T ALWAYS GET WHAT HE’S GOT
THE GENIUS THAT HE SAYS HE IS
THE WORDS THAT COMPLICATE EVERY PLOT
THE GLORY THAT IS ALL HIS!
WE DON’T ALWAYS GET WHAT HE’S GOT!

“We Don’t Always Get What He’s Got” lyrics by Mark Evan Chimsky, music by Zev Burrows
© 2018 Mark Evan Chimsky and Zev Burrows

INTERVIEW ABOUT “SWAGGER,”
THE SONG AND THE SHOW

Librettist/lyricist Mark Evan Chimsky discusses the importance of “Swagger” as the title of the musical—and its title song—with musical theater historian Richard M. Morse.

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