History Main / PatterSong

A common feature of TheMusical is the PatterSong, a light and rapid melody sung by a {{Motormouth}} character – less commonly, more than one. This will often tak the form of a LongList, resulting in a ListSong. Very commonly the song will involve tongue-twisters that test the singer’s ability to pronounce the lyrics clearly.

A common feature of TheMusical Broadwayis the PatterSong, a light and rapid melody sung by a {{Motormouth}} character – less commonly, more than one. This will often tak the form of a LongList, resulting in a ListSong. Very commonly the song will involve tongue-twisters that test the singer’s ability to pronounce the lyrics clearly.

You will find that as a rule in ev'ry [[TheMusical Broadway presentation]]\\
(Or perhaps the London West End, if that should be the location),\\
That at some point in the drama, all the action turns to stasis―\\
(Because, after all, how many shows make plotting their main basis?)\\
And a {{Motormouth}} or three will more or less expressly chatter\\
In a light and rapid melody--more technic'ly, a [[PatterSong patter]].\\
Since a LongList is a structure that no writer can resist long,\\
You will ofttimes find the [[PatterSong Patter]] overlapping with the ListSong.\\
Though it uses terms so ''[[GratuitousFrench recherchés]]'', the singers' tongues are twisted,\\
Each author still will use the trope, as here on this page, ''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle this]]'' [[SelfDemonstratingArticle did]]--\\
But because to try explaining what the trope entails quite tramples\\
On our Tropers' little patience, let us on to the examples:\\

** ''{{Assassins}}'' has ''The Ballad of Czolgosz.''

* "Adelaide's Lament", from GuysAndDolls

* "A Wolf at the Door" by {{Radiohead}} is unusually dark in tone for a PatterSong, but still has the rapid-fire tempo.

** Other famous GilbertAndSullivan patter songs include "Love Unrequited" (sometimes titled "The Nightmare Song") from ''Iolanthe'', and "My Name is John Wellington Wells" from ''The Sorcerer''.

** GilbertAndSullivan [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] their own notoriety for patter songs (and the difficulty in understanding them when sung, due to their ludicrous speed) with "My eyes are fully open" in ''Ruddigore'', a patter song that includes the lines "This particularly rapid, unintelligible patter / Isn't generally heard, and if it is it doesn't matter!" It was then interpolated in ThePiratesOfPenzance for a very famous production in 1982.

->And now that you've glanced o'er this list to edit, add or merely lurk
->We humbly opine you hit Control-Q and hence ''[[JustOneMoreLevel get back to work]]!''

And a {{Motoromouth}} or three will more or less expressly chatter\\

And a character or three will more or less expressly chatter\\

\\
Has to be sung by a {{Motormouth}}.

---> To end on a happy note, one can always count on Gilbert and Sullivan for a rousing finale, full of words and music and signifying... ''nothing''.

On a Troper's little patience, let us on to the examples:\\

Each author still will use the trope, as here on this page, ''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle this]]''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle did]]--\\

In a light and rapid melody--more technic'ly, a [[PatterSong patter]].\\

->You will find that as a rule in ev'ry [[TheMusical Broadway presentation]]
->(Or perhaps the London West End, if that should be the location),
->That at some point in the drama, all the action turns to stasis―
->(Because, after all, how many shows make plotting their main basis?)
->And a character or three will more or less expressly chatter
->In a light and rapid melody--more technic'ly, a [[PatterSong patter]].
->Since a LongList is a structure that no writer can resist long,
->You will ofttimes find the [[PatterSong Patter]] overlapping with the ListSong.
->Though it uses terms so ''[[GratuitousFrench recherchés]]'', the singers' tongues are twisted,
->Each author still will use the trope, as here on this page, ''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle this]]'' [[SelfDemonstratingArticle did]]--
->But because to try explaining what the trope entails quite tramples
->On This Troper's little patience, let us on to the examples:

--> I don't give a fuck if calling the pope a motherfucker\\
Means you unthinkingly brand me an unthinking apostate.\\
This has nowt to do with other fucking godly motherfuckers\\
I'm not interested right now in fucking scriptural debate.\\
There are other fucking songs and there are other fucking ways,\\
I'll be a religious apologist on other fucking days,\\
But the fact remains if you protect a single kiddy fucker\\
Then Pope or Prince or Plumber, you're a fucking motherfucker!

->And now that you've been through this list to edit, proofread or just lurk
->We humbly suggest you hit Control-Q and then ''[[JustOneMoreLevel get back to work]]!''

->We kindly suggest you hit Control-Q and then ''[[JustOneMoreLevel get back to work]]!''

->We kindly suggest you hit Control-Q and then ''[[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife get back to work]]!''

->We kindly suggest you hit Control-Q and then ''[[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife get back to work]]''!

->We kindly suggest you hit Control-Q and then ''[[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife get back to work'']]!

->We kindly suggest you hit Control-Q and then [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife get back to work!]]

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