A Song That Almost Was Not Part Two
The lead role was in many a wishing female heart.
Numerous young actresses auditioned for the part
Mr. Fleming said, “We’re looking at girls day and night,
We have seen scores of them, and not one of them seems right.
If you want me to tell you, it might sound very cold.
Some of these girls are not right for this. They are too old!
Lots of them are plainly awful! They will not be missed!
We can drop a few names here; that should shorten the list.
I know we have quite a difficult choice here, L. B.
Therefore, we should be considering this girl Judy.
All right Mr. Mayer, so she was not our first choice.
Let’s try her anyway; she’s got a good singing voice.”
So the studio head gave Judy a chance that day.
With not much time, here is what Mr. Mayer would say:
“I think this girl will do, she seems better than the rest.
Will somebody please get a tight corset for her chest?”
Things were not much better in the music department.
Mr. Mayer described the current predicament:
“Each of these guys writing songs is an ignoramus.
I saw the final products they came up with for us.
Look at this song here; we should sweep it under the rug!
Who will ever sing a bit titled “The Jitterbug”?
However, here is one that is lousy as can be:
“Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
away above the chimney tops.
That’s where you’ll find me?”
I cannot stand to hear this song; it really must go!
Even the title stinks; it’s called ‘Over the Rainbow‘” !
Material to write this poem came from several sources, most notably the book "The MGM Story", and added features to the DVD edition of "The Wizard of Oz"
Copyright © Robert Pettit | Year Posted 2012
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