Rose’s Turn
Producer
Rose’s Turn Lyrics
Here she is, boys!
Here she is, world!
Here's Rose!
(sung)
Curtain up!
Light the lights!
(spoken)
Play it, boys!
(sung)
You either got it
Or you ain't
And, boys, I got it!
You like it?
[ORCHESTRA, spoken]
Yeah!
[ROSE]
Well, I got it!
Some people got it and make it pay
Some people can't even give it away!
This people's got it
And this people's spreadin' it around
You either have it—
Or you've had it
Hello, everybody! My name's Rose! What's yours?
How do you like them egg rolls, Mr. Goldstone?
(sung)
Hold your hats and hallelujah
Momma's gonna show it to ya!
(spoken)
Ready or not, shhh, here comes Momma!
(sung)
Momma's talkin' loud
Momma's doin' fine!
Momma's gettin' hot
Momma's goin' stong
Momma's movin' on!
Momma's all alone
Momma doesn't care
Momma's lettin' loose
Momma's got the stuff
Momma's lettin' go—
M-M-Momma—
M-M-Momma—
Momma's got the stuff
Momma's gotta move
Momma's gotta go—
M-Momma—
M-Momma—
Momma's gotta let go!
What did it get me?
Scrapbooks full of me in the background
Give 'em love and what does it get you?
What does it get you?
One quick look as each of them leaves you!
All your life and what does it get you?
Thanks a lot, and out with the garbage
They take bows and you're battin' zero!
I had a dream—
I dreamed it for you, June
It wasn't for me, Herbie
And if it wasn't for me
Then where would you be
Miss Gypsy Rose Lee?!
Well, someone tell me, when is it my turn?
Don't I get a dream for myself?
Startin' now, it's gonna be my turn
Gangway world, get off of my runway!
Startin' now, I bat a thousand!
This time boys, I'm takin' the bows and
Everything's coming up Rose!
Everything's coming up roses!
Everything's coming up roses
This time for me!
For me!
For me!
For me!
For me!
For me!
For me!!
About
Widely considered one of the best songs in the musical theatre canon, Rose’s Turn is GYPSY’s ‘eleven o'clock number’. The song happens as Rose has a nervous breakdown, culminating in her heartwrenching repeated cried of “FOR ME!”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
In Finishing the Hat, Sondheim writes:
Rose’s climactic breakdown was originally to be a surreal ballet, in which Rose would be confronted by all the people in her life…One week into rehearsals, Jerry suddenly announced that he didn’t have time to choreograph the ballet; it would have to be a song, and Jule [Styne] and I should meet with him at the end of the day to discuss it. As it happened, Jule had a social engagement that evening, so I went to meet with Jerry alone.
…I suggested to Jerry that since he had wanted all the people in the story to collide in a ballet, perhaps if Rose’s breakdown were to be sung rather than danced it could comprise fragments of all the songs associated with her and the people in her life: the songs we’d heard all evening, colliding in an extended surreal medley consisting of fragments of the score…
When we played the song for Ethel at rehearsal, she received it with some uncertainty. “It’s sorta more an aria than a song” she commented doubtfully, halfway a complaint….Despite her misgivings, Ethel triumphed."
- 3.Some People
- 4.Small World
- 7.Little Lamb
- 16.Rose’s Turn
- 20.Nice She Ain’t
- 21.Who Needs Him?
