Something Just Broke - Stephen Sondheim, Rob Morrison, Katrina Yaukey

I was out

In the yard

Taking down the bed sheets

When my neighbor yelled across:

«The president’s been shot.»

I remember where I was

Just exactly where I was

In the yard out back…

«The president’s been shot.»

I was getting me a shoeshine…

…Folding sheets…

…When I heard…

We were waiting for a carriage…

…Newsboys…

…Suddenly there’s shouting in the street…

…Lizzie's sheet…

«The president’s been shot.»

…I'll remember it forever…

…And I thought:

Where I was, what I was doing…

Something just broke

«The president’s been shot.»

My God

I was up near the ridge

Plowing…

We were working at the plant…

I was halfway through correcting the exams…

…When my wife…

…It was Mike…

…She comes tearing 'cross the field…

…Mike the foreman…

…In runs Billy…

…I mean, he was crying…

…He was crying…

…She was crying…

I’ll remember it forever…

And I thought:

«The president’s been shot.»

You know what?

There are presidents who aren’t worth a lot

I kept thinking:

There’s the kind that gets elected, then forgot

Mr. Garfield

Mr. Lincoln

He’s a hack

Bill McKinley

He’s a giant

He’s a joke

Still, something just broke

«The president is rallying.»

«The president is sinking.»

«The president is dead.»

Something just broke

I was down at the Exchange…

Something just made a little dent

I’d been shopping…

I’d been sick…

Something just broke

All I know, it was a Friday…

Only for a moment

I remember it exactly…

Something got bent

I’m taking the order…

Something just left a little mark

I was getting dressed…

…Two potato soups…

Something just went a little dark

Something just went

And I wondered:

I was scared of…

What would follow…

Something to be mended…

Made me wonder who we are…

…Something we’ll have to weather…

It was seeing all those torches…

…Bringing us all together…

He was me…

He was us…

…If only for a moment…

I’ll remember it forever…

…Nothing has really ended…

Where I was, what I was doing…

…Only just been suspended…

Like a flash…

…'Cause something just stirred…

And I thought

And I thought to myself

And I thought

…Something just woke…

And I thought

I kept thinking

Something just spoke

Something I wish I hadn’t heard

Something bewildering occurred

Fix it up fast

Please

'Til it’s just smoke

'Til it’s only «Something just passed»

Nothing that will last

Where I was, what I was doing

Nothing but the moment

Just an awful moment

But something just—