The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years is a one act musical written by Jason Robert Brown and produced off-Broadway in March of 2002. It explores the five-year relationship between Jamie, a rising novelist, and Cathy, a struggling actress. Jamie plays out the story from the start of the relationship to its end, and Cathy does so in reverse chronological order--their time lines converging and then diverging in the song "The Next Ten Minutes" which depicts their wedding. Shiksa Goddess Jamie: If you had a tattoo, that wouldn't matterIf you had a shaved head, that would be coolIf you came from Spain or JapanOr the back of a vanJust as long as you're not from Hebrew school See I'm Smiling Cathy: No, Jamie, you do not have to go to another party With the same twenty jerks you already know You can stay with your wife on her fucking birthday And you could, God forbid, even see my show You know I could never understand. How you could stand there straight and tall. And see I'm crying and not do anything at all. Moving Too Fast Jamie: Some people analyze every detail Some people stall when they can't see the trail Some people freeze out of fear that they'll fail But I keep rolling on Some people can't get success with their art Some people never feel love in their heart Some people can't tell the two things apart A Part of That Cathy: Then he smiles and where else can I go? I didn't know, the rules do not apply And then he smiles and nothing else makes sense While he invents the world that's passing by The Schmuel Song Jamie: And sewn into the seamsWere forty-one seasons of dreamsDreams that you could feel coming realAnd that very dress, so the papers sworeWas the dress a girl in Odessa woreOn the day she promised forevermoreTo love a young man named SchmuelWho only one day beforeHad knocked at her kitchen door. Have I mentioned today? How lucky I am, to be in love with you. A Summer in Ohio Cathy: I could shove an ice pick in my eyeI could eat some fish from last JulyBut it wouldn't be as awful as a summer in OhioWithout cable, hot water, Vietnamese food, or you The Next Ten Minutes Jamie: Will you share your life with meFor the next ten minutes?For the next ten minutes?We can handle that Jamie: And if we make it till thenCan I ask you again for another ten?And if you in turn agree to the next ten minutesAnd the next ten minutes 'til the morning comesThen just holding you might compel me to ask you for more Jamie: Will you share your life with meFor the next ten lifetimes?For a million summers Jamie and Cathy: 'Til the world explodes'Til there's no one left who has ever known us apart? A Miracle Would Happen/When You Come Home to Me Jamie: Everyone tells you that the minute you get marriedEvery other woman in the world suddenly finds you attractiveWell, that's not trueIt only affects the kind of women you always wanted to sleep withBut they wouldn't give you the time of day before Jamie: And in a perfect worldA miracle would happenAnd every girl would look like Mister Ed Climbing Uphill Cathy: Why is the director staring at his crotch?Why is that man staring at my resume?Don't stare at my resumeI made up half my resumeLook at me, stop looking at that, look at meNo, not at my shoes, don't look at my shoesI hate these fucking shoesWhy'd I pick these shoes?Why'd I pick this song?Why'd I pick this career?Why does this pianist hate me? If I Didn't Believe In You Jamie: No one can give you courageNo one can thicken your skinI will not fail so you can be comfortable, CathyI will not lose because you can't win Nobody Needs to Know Jamie: We build a tree house, I keep it from shakingLittle more glue every time that it breaksPerfectly balanced, and then I start makingConscious, deliberate mistakes Goodbye Until Tomorrow/I Could Never Rescue You Jamie: You never saw how far the crack had opened You never knew I had run out of rope And I could never rescue you All you ever wanted But I could never rescue you No matter how I try All I could do was love you hard and let you go. External links The Last 5 Years on Jason Robert Brown's website Category:Musicals