- [Announcer] Coming up on "American Songbook at NJPAC", an evening with the incomparable Melissa Errico.

♪ Loving you is why I do ♪ ♪ The things I do ♪ Melissa's stunning vocals are breathtaking.

♪ How do you keep the music playing ♪ ♪ How do you make it last ♪ And her commitment to storytelling is unmatched.

♪ I'm not well, so I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ You've been 12, but I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Clear the hall 'cause I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Thank you all but I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Now don't tell Paul, but I'm not getting married today ♪ ♪ When somebody loved me ♪ ♪ Everything was beautiful ♪ - The "American Songbook Series at NJPAC" is presented through the generous support of the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The David S Steiner and Sylvia Steiner Charitable Trust, the Joan and Allen Bildner Family Fund and the Smart Family Foundation: David S. Stone Esquire Stone and Magnanini.

♪ When she ♪ ♪ Loved ♪ ♪ Me ♪ And now from Lizzie and Jonathan Tish stage at NJPAC's Victoria Theater in Newark, New Jersey, your host, Ted Chapin.

[audience applauds] - Here is a woman who has carved for herself, an extraordinary career from Broadway to the world of cabaret, where she has taken themes and ideas and created remarkable and unique programs.

There really is no one quite like her.

Ladies and gentlemen, the great Melissa Errico.

[audience applauds] [upbeat music] - Hello.

♪ Everybody says don't, everybody says don't ♪ ♪ Everybody says don't, it isn't right ♪ ♪ Don't, it isn't nice ♪ ♪ Everybody says don't, everybody says don't ♪ ♪ Everybody says don't walk on the grass ♪ ♪ Don't disturb the peace ♪ ♪ Don't skate on the ice ♪ ♪ Well, I say do ♪ ♪ I say walk on the grass that was meant to feel ♪ ♪ I say, sail ♪ ♪ Till to the windmill ♪ ♪ And if you fail, you fail ♪ ♪ Everybody says don't, everybody says don't ♪ ♪ Everybody says don't get out of line ♪ ♪ When they say that then, lady that's a sign ♪ ♪ Nine times out of 10 ♪ ♪ Lady you are doing just fine ♪ ♪ Make just a ripple ♪ ♪ Come on be brave ♪ ♪ This time a ripple ♪ ♪ Next time a wave ♪ ♪ Sometimes you have to start small ♪ ♪ Climbing the tiniest wall ♪ ♪ Maybe you're going to fall ♪ ♪ But it's better than not starting at all ♪ ♪ Everybody says no, everybody stays stop ♪ ♪ Everybody says mustn't rock the boat ♪ ♪ Mustn't touch a thing ♪ ♪ Everybody says don't ♪ ♪ Everybody says wait ♪ ♪ Everybody says can't fight city hall ♪ ♪ Can't upset the cart ♪ ♪ Can't laugh at the king ♪ ♪ Well I say try, ♪ ♪ I say ♪ ♪ Laugh at the king or he'll make you cry ♪ ♪ Loose your poise ♪ ♪ Fall if you have to but lady make a noise ♪ ♪ Everybody says don't, everybody says can't ♪ ♪ Everybody says wait around for miracles ♪ ♪ That's the way the world is made ♪ ♪ I insist on miracles if you do them ♪ ♪ Miracles, nothing to them ♪ ♪ I say don't, don't be afraid!

♪ [audience applauds] Thank you.

[jazzy music] Okay.

♪ All I want is a room somewhere ♪ ♪ Far away from the cold night air ♪ ♪ With one enormous chair ♪ ♪ Oh wouldn't it be lovely ♪ ♪ Lots of chocolate for me to eat ♪ ♪ Lots of coal making lots of heat ♪ ♪ Warm face, warm hands, warm feet ♪ ♪ Oh wouldn't it be lovely ♪ ♪ Oh, so lovely sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still ♪ ♪ I would never budge ♪ ♪ 'Til spring crept over me window sill ♪ ♪ Someone's head restin' on my knee ♪ ♪ Warm, warm and tender as he can be ♪ ♪ Who takes good care of me ♪ ♪ Oh wouldn't it ♪ ♪ Be lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪ ♪ Rain drops on roses ♪ ♪ And whiskers on kittens ♪ ♪ Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens ♪ ♪ Brown paper packages tied up with string ♪ ♪ These are a few of my favorite things ♪ ♪ Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels ♪ ♪ Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles ♪ ♪ Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings ♪ ♪ These are a few of my favorite things ♪ ♪ Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes ♪ ♪ Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes ♪ ♪ Silver white winters that melt into spring ♪ ♪ These are a few of my favorite things ♪ ♪ When the dog bites ♪ ♪ When the bee stings ♪ ♪ When I'm feeling sad ♪ ♪ I simply remember my favorite things ♪ ♪ And then I don't feel ♪ ♪ So bad ♪ [audience applauds] Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, how nice to be here in New Jersey.

My father is from New Jersey.

So I'm something of a Jersey girl myself.

[audience member cheers] So tonight I think of what we've all been going through and where we all are at.

Tonight I think of this show as the puzzle, the puzzle of my life and the pieces of dreams and the pieces of that puzzle, these are all songs that have stayed with me.

Music came to me in the form of my father playing the piano, and it was the music of Michel Legrand.

[pensive music] ♪ Little boy lost ♪ ♪ In search of little boy found ♪ ♪ You go a wondering, wandering ♪ ♪ Stumbling, tumbling ♪ ♪ Round, round ♪ ♪ When will you find ♪ ♪ What's on the tip of your mind ♪ ♪ Why are you blind ♪ ♪ To all you ever were ♪ ♪ Never were ♪ ♪ Really are ♪ ♪ Nearly are ♪ ♪ Little boy false ♪ ♪ In search of little boy true ♪ ♪ Will you be ever done traveling ♪ ♪ Always unraveling you, you ♪ ♪ Running away ♪ ♪ Could leave you further astray ♪ ♪ And as for fishing in streams ♪ ♪ For pieces of dreams ♪ ♪ Those pieces will never fit ♪ ♪ What is the sense of it ♪ ♪ Running away ♪ ♪ Could lead you further astray ♪ ♪ And as for fishing in streams ♪ ♪ For pieces of dreams ♪ ♪ Those pieces will never fit ♪ ♪ What is the sense of it ♪ ♪ Little boy blue ♪ ♪ Don't let your little sheep roam ♪ ♪ It's time, come blow your horn ♪ ♪ Meet them on ♪ ♪ Look and see, can you be ♪ ♪ Far from home ♪ ♪ Far ♪ ♪ From ♪ ♪ Home ♪ [audience applauds] This next song is a beautiful song by Michel Legrand.

One of his great, great hits.

I think it asks, I love questions, songs, songs that ask questions.

And I think that you'll hear a few of those tonight.

And this song asks wonderful questions about music and enduring marriage.

[bright music] ♪ How do you keep the music playing ♪ ♪ How do you make it last?

♪ ♪ How do you keep the song ♪ ♪ From fading too fast ♪ ♪ How do you lose yourself to someone ♪ ♪ And never lose your way ♪ ♪ How do you not run out of new things to say ♪ ♪ And since we know we're always changing ♪ ♪ How can it be the same ♪ ♪ And tell me how year after year ♪ ♪ You're sure your heart will fall apart ♪ ♪ Each time you hear his name ♪ ♪ I know the way ♪ ♪ I feel for you it's now or never ♪ ♪ The more I love, the more that I'm afraid ♪ ♪ That in your eyes I may not see forever ♪ ♪ Forever ♪ ♪ If we can be the best of lovers ♪ ♪ Yet be the best of friends ♪ ♪ If we can try with every day ♪ ♪ To make it better as it grows ♪ ♪ With any luck then I suppose ♪ ♪ The music never ends ♪ ♪ I know, the way I feel for you ♪ ♪ It's now or never ♪ ♪ The more I love, the more that I'm afraid ♪ ♪ That in your eyes I may not see forever ♪ ♪ Forever ♪ ♪ If we can be the best of lovers ♪ ♪ Yet be the best of friends ♪ ♪ If we can try with every day ♪ ♪ To make it better as it grows ♪ ♪ With any luck then I suppose ♪ ♪ The music never ends ♪ ♪ Never ends ♪ ♪ Never ends ♪ ♪ Never ends ♪ [audience applauds] Thank you.

This next song is by Stephen Sondheim.

Well, his music, as he said, was always written for a scene for a show.

And really that's it, meant for this moment.

Now I have put a little thought into where lies the universal sides of Mr. Sondheim's work, the universal, the philosophical, the empathic, the beautiful things that can live outside the specific moments in which they were written.

This next song I'm drawn to because it's set in Italy.

It is set in 1863 from the musical "Passion".

I was in a production of "Passion".

Now, for those of you who know the character of Fosca, this song is written basically to be very, it is pathological.

The character is pathological and she's psychotic really.

And, but I think the song itself is about attachment and can perhaps live outside of the intense story for which it was written.

So with your permission, I will try to find the universal side of a psychotic song.

[audience laughs] This is a song in some ways where desperation can give you a sense of purpose.

[dramatic music] ♪ Loving you is not a choice ♪ ♪ It's who I am ♪ ♪ Loving you is not a choice ♪ ♪ And not much reason to rejoice ♪ ♪ But it gives me purpose, gives me voice ♪ ♪ To say to the world ♪ ♪ This is why I live ♪ ♪ You are why I live ♪ ♪ Loving you is why I do ♪ ♪ The things I do ♪ ♪ Loving you is not in my control ♪ ♪ But loving you I have a goal ♪ ♪ For what's left of my life ♪ ♪ I will live ♪ ♪ And I would die ♪ ♪ For you ♪ ♪ Loving you is why I do the things I do ♪ ♪ Loving you is not in my control ♪ ♪ But loving you I have a goal ♪ ♪ For what's left of my life ♪ ♪ I will live ♪ ♪ And I would die ♪ ♪ For you ♪ [audience cheers and applauds] ♪ When somebody loved me ♪ ♪ Everything was beautiful ♪ ♪ Every hour we spent together ♪ ♪ Lives within my heart ♪ ♪ And when she was sad ♪ ♪ I was there to dry her tears ♪ ♪ And when she was happy, so was I ♪ ♪ When she loved me ♪ ♪ Through the summer and the fall ♪ ♪ We had each other, that was all ♪ ♪ Just she and I together ♪ ♪ Like it was meant to be ♪ ♪ And when she was lonely ♪ ♪ I was there to comfort her ♪ ♪ And I knew that ♪ ♪ She loved me ♪ ♪ So the years went by ♪ ♪ I stayed the same ♪ ♪ But she began to drift away ♪ ♪ I was left alone ♪ ♪ Still I waited for the day ♪ ♪ When she'd say, ♪ ♪ I will always ♪ ♪ Love you ♪ ♪ Lonely and forgotten ♪ ♪ Never thought she'd look my way ♪ ♪ And she smiled at me and held me ♪ ♪ Just like she used to do ♪ ♪ Like she loved me ♪ ♪ When she loved me ♪ ♪ When somebody loved me ♪ ♪ Everything was beautiful ♪ ♪ Every hour spent together ♪ ♪ Lives within my heart ♪ ♪ When she ♪ ♪ Loved me ♪ [audience applauds] - Stephen Sondheim has given us some of the most enchanting, well, not enchanting as much as exciting and complicated portraits of marriage.

It's quite fascinating of course, how writers write sometimes best about things they know least about.

He put marriage aside or put it off for so long, but he gave us the most brilliant songs about marriage.

And of course he ended up so happy.

And that's one of the greatest things imaginable for people who adore him.

But Alan Jay Lerner for example, was married eight times, one time to the same woman.

And he of course, is the man who gave us the song ♪ If ever I would leave you ♪ [audience laughs] So this song is from the musical "Company".

So Joseph, take us to church.

[dramatic music] - I'm playing all the parts.

♪ Bless this day ♪ ♪ Pinnacle of life ♪ ♪ Husband joined to wife ♪ ♪ The heart leaps up to behold ♪ ♪ This golden day ♪ - Amy, we're really getting married!

[frenzied music] ♪ Pardon me, is everybody there ♪ ♪ Because if everybody's there ♪ ♪ I want to thank you all for coming to the wedding ♪ ♪ I'd appreciate your going even more ♪ ♪ I mean you must have lots of better things to do ♪ ♪ And not a word of this to Paul ♪ ♪ Remember Paul, you know, the man I'm gonna marry ♪ ♪ But I'm not ♪ ♪ 'Cause I wouldn't ruin anyone as wonderful as he is ♪ ♪ So I thank you all ♪ ♪ For the gifts and the flowers ♪ ♪ Thank you all ♪ ♪ Now it's back to the showers ♪ ♪ Don't tell Paul ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married today ♪ ♪ Bless this day ♪ ♪ Tragedy of life ♪ ♪ Husband yoked to wife ♪ ♪ The heart sinks down and feels dead ♪ ♪ This dreadful day ♪ Amy, I can't find my cuff-links!

♪ Oh, they're on the dresser ♪ ♪ Next to my suicide note ♪ ♪ Listen, everybody, look ♪ ♪ I don't know what you're waiting for ♪ ♪ A wedding, what's a wedding ♪ ♪ It's a prehistoric ritual ♪ ♪ Where everybody promises fidelity forever ♪ ♪ Which is maybe the most horrifying word I ever heard of ♪ ♪ Which is followed by a honeymoon ♪ ♪ Where suddenly he'll realize ♪ ♪ He's saddled with a nut ♪ ♪ And wanna kill me, which he should ♪ ♪ So, thanks a bunch ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Go have lunch ♪ ♪ Because I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ You've been grand ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Don't just stand there ♪ ♪ I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ And don't tell Paul ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married today ♪ ♪ Go, can't you go ♪ ♪ Why is nobody listening ♪ ♪ Goodbye, go and cry ♪ ♪ At another person's wake ♪ ♪ If you're quick ♪ ♪ For a kick you could pick up a christening ♪ ♪ But please, on my knees ♪ ♪ There's a human life at stake ♪ ♪ Listen everybody, I'm afraid you didn't hear ♪ ♪ Or do you want to see a crazy lady ♪ ♪ Fall apart in front of you ♪ ♪ It isn't only Paul, who may be ruining his life ♪ ♪ We're both busy losing our identities ♪ ♪ I telephoned my analyst about it ♪ ♪ And he said to see him Monday ♪ ♪ But by Monday I'll be floating in the Hudson ♪ ♪ With the other garbage ♪ ♪ I'm not well ♪ ♪ So I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ You've been swell ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Clear the hall ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Thank you all ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ And don't tell Paul ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married today ♪ ♪ Bless this bride ♪ ♪ Totally insane ♪ ♪ Slipping down the drain ♪ ♪ And bless this day in our hearts ♪ ♪ As it starts to rain ♪ [bride gasps] [thunder crashes] ♪ Oh go, can't you go ♪ ♪ Look, you know ♪ ♪ I adore you all ♪ ♪ But why watch me die ♪ ♪ Like Eliza on the ice ♪ ♪ Look, perhaps I'll collapse ♪ ♪ In the apse right before you all ♪ ♪ So take back the cake ♪ ♪ Burn the shoes and boil the rice ♪ ♪ Look, I didn't wanna have to tell you ♪ ♪ But I may be coming down with hepatitis ♪ ♪ And I think I'm gonna faint ♪ ♪ If you wanna see me faint ♪ ♪ I'll do it happily ♪ ♪ But wouldn't it be funnier to go and watch a funeral ♪ ♪ So thank you for the 27 dinner plates ♪ ♪ And 37 butter knives and 47 paperweights ♪ ♪ And 57 candle holders ♪ ♪ I am not getting married ♪ ♪ But I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Still I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ See, I'm not getting married ♪ ♪ Let us pray that I'm not getting married today ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ [bride sobs] [audience applauds] - Okay, listen, I'm gonna pull myself together.

Tell each other like the three best parts of your day.

[audience laughs] - So Melissa.

- Yes.

- What a wonderful evening.

- Bless you.

- It made me feel kind of like you had presented a garden for us to walk through with all these lovely different flowers from different types and different styles and times of your lives.

One question I had is many of the songs that you sang tonight are characters that you have played in musicals.

When you choose a song like that for an evening like this, do you think about the character or do you just sort of take what you learned in the character and make it your own?

- I do things simultaneously.

There is a sort of simultaneity of what's going on.

I do know the character always.

I know I'm playing Fosca when I sing "Loving You".

So I keep and retain what I think is her intensity and her tenacity.

But then there's my romantic idea of the song and my idea of abandon and my idea of attachment.

And I let those two things coexist.

But I never lose sight of the character.

- But I have to say, every time you make a decision like that in singing, we are so with you as to where you're going.

Another question, some of the songs you sang tonight were questions.

The songs were questions.

What interests you about songs like that?

"What Did I Have I Don't Have Now", those kind of things?

- Yeah, "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?"

- Right.

- I like to ask questions like that.

Well, what interests me is that things hang in the air.

What did I have that I don't have like, so as you're singing that there's a moment before the next thought, maybe question you haven't answered it, obviously, 'cause it's not like, oh, I'll tell you what it is.

It's that I used to be this other person.

It sits there and it lets the audience think for a second.

There's a kind of tension in asking a question.

♪ Isn't it rich ♪ - Right.

♪ Are we a pair ♪ - And there's this kind of awful, in that case anxiety about what's not being said.

So it allows for the answer to sit between me and the audience or the musicians or myself.

- I have to say "Getting Married Today" was a hoot.

I have to say, even though it's a song, I mean, congratulations, you know, not an easy thing, whether the veil all cooperated or not.

- No, no, no, no.

It's funny when I'm at rapid speed and totally neurotic and thinking about in my psychiatrist and all these things.

Like I'm not that worried.

It's not that hard.

[laughs] No, I mean, it is hard.

It is hard, but you just have to stay in the moment.

It's like I have over the years developed methods for enduring the ups and downs of show business.

And I have learned to meditate as a person.

I do meditate.

I have also given some thought to mindfulness.

I have children.

And just to learn to be in the moment and pay close attention to what's happening.

Like even right now, just be conscious and not be ahead of yourself and a song like that is actually a zen experience.

You have to just be right there.

You know?

Part of me, you know, now listen everybody, look, I don't know what you're waiting for.

A wedding.

What's a wedding?

It's a prehistoric ritual where everybody promises fidelity forever, which is maybe the most, you know, you see what I mean?

You have to be in every moment, which is maybe the most horrifying word I've ever heard and which is followed by a honeymoon.

Well, suddenly he'll realize he saddled with a nut and wanna kill me, which he should, so listen.

- Right.

- So if you're ahead of yourself, you won't make any sense of that.

You're just gonna be this person saying notes and words.

And it's just nothing.

- But I did like the crazy lady fall apart in front of you when you're under the piano.

That was, that was, if you did that, that stage and congratulations, you.

- Normally the piano's not so far, so I'm not sure what I looked like crawling around in this beautiful concert hall.

[laughs] So thank you.

- Alright, well listen, thank you so much for an extraordinary evening and for sharing it with all of us.

- Thank you.

- Thank you so much, Melissa.

- During the pandemic, I fell into a creative project.

[tentative jazzy music] Okay.

It's the height of the pandemic.

I'm home.

I haven't been out of my Lululemons and t-shirt, not for years.

Locked down like everyone.

My children have remote schooling tomorrow.

I've tucked them into bed.

My husband has the virus.

I've locked him in the basement.

And then I do what I love to do.

I flip through YouTube and I fall into film noir, Mitchum, McCall, Stanwick.

After midnight, I have two lives.

In one, I'm here.

In the other, I'm not here.

I'm there, a noir heroine, a femme somewhat fatale.

1948 West 52nd street, a chantuese in a boîte .

That's a singer in a bar for you English speakers.

♪ You know the feeling of something ♪ ♪ Half remembered ♪ ♪ Of something that never happened ♪ ♪ Yet you recall it well ♪ ♪ You know the feeling ♪ ♪ Of recognizing someone ♪ ♪ That you've never met ♪ ♪ As far as you could tell ♪ ♪ Well ♪ ♪ Laura is the face in ♪ ♪ The misty light ♪ ♪ Footsteps that you hear ♪ ♪ Down the hall ♪ ♪ The laugh that floats on ♪ ♪ A summer night ♪ ♪ That you can never ♪ ♪ Quite recall ♪ ♪ And you see Laura on a train ♪ ♪ That is passing through ♪ ♪ Those eyes ♪ ♪ How familiar they seem ♪ ♪ She gave her very first kiss to you ♪ ♪ That was Laura ♪ ♪ But she's only a dream ♪ ♪ And you see Laura ♪ ♪ On a train that is passing through ♪ ♪ Those eyes ♪ ♪ How familiar they seem ♪ ♪ She gave her very kiss to you ♪ ♪ That was Laura ♪ ♪ But she's only ♪ ♪ A dream ♪ [audience applauds] [Melissa laughs] - I have a fellow femme fatale in the audience I see.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So now while we're at the cinema, I think we'll stay there.

And go back to Michel Legrand.

And this is a beautiful song of awakening with lyrics, of course, by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, A beautiful song by Michel Legrand.

[bright music] ♪ There's no chill and yet I shiver ♪ ♪ There's no flame and yet I burn ♪ ♪ I'm not sure what I'm afraid of ♪ ♪ And yet I'm trembling ♪ ♪ There's no storm yet I hear thunder ♪ ♪ And I'm breathless, why I wonder ♪ ♪ Weak one moment, then the next ♪ ♪ I'm fine ♪ ♪ I feel as if I'm falling every time I close my eyes ♪ ♪ And flowing through my body is a river of surprise ♪ ♪ Feelings are wakening, I hardly recognize ♪ ♪ As mine ♪ ♪ What are all these new sensations ♪ ♪ What's the secret they reveal ♪ ♪ I'm not sure I understand ♪ ♪ But I like the way I feel ♪ ♪ Oh, why is it that every time I close my eyes he's there ♪ ♪ The water shining on his skin, the sunlight in her hair ♪ ♪ And all the while I'm thinking things ♪ ♪ That I can't wait to share with him ♪ ♪ I'm a bundle of confusion ♪ ♪ Yet it has a strange appeal ♪ ♪ Did it all begin with him ♪ ♪ And the way he makes me feel ♪ ♪ I like the way ♪ ♪ He makes me feel ♪ [audience cheers and applauds] [applause overpowers voice] And now back to Stephen Sondheim.

This is a song sung by an aging actress at a crossroads in her life.

This is the story of a woman who got everything that she wanted and nothing that she wanted.

[thoughtful music] ♪ Isn't it rich ♪ ♪ Are we a pair ♪ ♪ Me here at last on the ground ♪ ♪ You in mid-air ♪ ♪ Send in the clowns ♪ ♪ Isn't it bliss ♪ ♪ Don't you approve ♪ ♪ One who keeps tearing around ♪ ♪ One who can't move ♪ ♪ Where are the clowns ♪ ♪ Send in the clowns ♪ ♪ Just when I stopped opening doors ♪ ♪ Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours ♪ ♪ Making my entrance again with my usual flair ♪ ♪ Sure of my lines ♪ ♪ No one is there ♪ ♪ Don't you love farce ♪ ♪ My fault, I fear ♪ ♪ I thought that you'd want what I want ♪ ♪ Sorry my dear ♪ ♪ But where are the clowns ♪ ♪ Quick, send in the clowns ♪ ♪ Don't bother they're here ♪ ♪ Isn't it rich ♪ ♪ Isn't it queer ♪ ♪ Losing my timing this late ♪ ♪ In my career ♪ ♪ And where are the clowns ♪ ♪ There ought to be clowns ♪ ♪ Well, maybe ♪ ♪ Next year ♪ [audience applauds] [bright music] ♪ What did I have that I don't have ♪ ♪ What did he like that I lost track of ♪ ♪ What did I do that I don't do the way I did before ♪ ♪ What isn't there that once was there ♪ ♪ What have I got a great big lack of ♪ ♪ Something in me then he could see then ♪ ♪ Beckons to him no more ♪ ♪ Oh I'm just a victim of time ♪ ♪ Obsolete in my prime ♪ ♪ Out-of-date and outclassed, by my past ♪ ♪ What did he love that there's none of ♪ ♪ What did I lose the sweet warm knack of ♪ ♪ Wouldn't I be the late great me if I knew how ♪ ♪ Oh, what did I have I don't have now ♪ ♪ What did he like that I'm not like ♪ ♪ What was the charm that I've run dry of ♪ ♪ What would I give if my old know-how still knew how ♪ ♪ Oh what did I have I don't have ♪ ♪ What did he see that's gone now ♪ ♪ What did I have I don't ♪ ♪ Have ♪ ♪ Now ♪ [audience applauds] Whew!

Oh, thank you.

You like it when the soprano belts it out a little, huh?

Now when we're looking for wisdom we always turn, of course to Stephen Sondheim.

I think if in some way, my hope for all of you is this song and my hope for everyone in my family and everyone that I know and all these great musicians is that we all continue to block out the everybody's who say don't, just block it out and do this: Keep moving on.

Take this one home.

[dramatic music] ♪ Stop worrying where you're going ♪ ♪ Move on ♪ ♪ If you can know where you're going ♪ ♪ You've gone ♪ ♪ Just keep moving on ♪ ♪ I chose, and my world was shaken ♪ ♪ So what ♪ ♪ The choice may have been mistaken ♪ ♪ The choosing was not ♪ ♪ You have to move on ♪ ♪ Look at what you want ♪ ♪ Not at where you are ♪ ♪ Not at what you'll be ♪ ♪ Look at all the things you've done for me ♪ ♪ Opened up my eyes ♪ ♪ Taught me how to see ♪ ♪ Notice every tree ♪ ♪ Understand the light ♪ ♪ Concentrate on now ♪ ♪ Move on ♪ ♪ Move on ♪ ♪ Stop worrying if your vision is new ♪ ♪ Let others make that decision ♪ ♪ They usually do ♪ ♪ You keep moving on ♪ ♪ Look at what you've done ♪ ♪ Then at what you want ♪ ♪ Not at where you are ♪ ♪ What you'll be ♪ ♪ Look at all the things you gave to me ♪ ♪ Let me give to you ♪ ♪ Something in return ♪ ♪ I would be so pleased ♪ ♪ Move on ♪ ♪ And the ♪ ♪ The color of your hair ♪ ♪ And the ♪ ♪ The way it catches light ♪ ♪ And the care ♪ ♪ And the feeling ♪ ♪ And the light ♪ ♪ Moving on ♪ ♪ We've always belonged ♪ ♪ Together ♪ ♪ We will always belong ♪ ♪ Together ♪ ♪ Just keep moving on ♪ ♪ Anything you do ♪ ♪ Let it come from you ♪ ♪ Then it will be new ♪ ♪ Give us more to see ♪ [audience applauds] Thank you.

I have one more song for the road.

[audience applauds] Have you enjoyed this program?

[audience cheers and applauds] Oh, thank you.

It takes courage, you know, and I have to have it because I have kids.

[audience laughs] I have to have it 'cause I have kids.

I have to have it 'cause I have a whole family history of people who didn't do it and wanted someone to do it.

And I love it.

I love to sing.

I hope that's come across.

Thank you for your time and your love and your support.

This last song is for all of us.

It's a song from "Into The Woods".

I believe after everything we've been through you'll understand why I chose it as a good night song.

And thank you for such a special evening.

♪ No one here to guide you ♪ ♪ Now you're on your own ♪ ♪ Only me beside you ♪ ♪ Still you're not alone ♪ ♪ No one is alone, truly ♪ ♪ No one is alone ♪ ♪ Sometimes people leave you ♪ ♪ Half-way through the wood ♪ ♪ Others may deceive you ♪ ♪ You decide what's good ♪ ♪ You decide alone ♪ ♪ But no one is alone ♪ ♪ People make mistakes ♪ ♪ Fathers, mothers ♪ ♪ People make mistakes ♪ ♪ Holding to their own ♪ ♪ Thinking they're alone ♪ ♪ Honor their mistakes ♪ ♪ Everybody makes ♪ ♪ One another's terrible mistakes ♪ ♪ Witches can be right ♪ ♪ Giants can be good ♪ ♪ You decide what's right ♪ ♪ You decide what's good ♪ ♪ Just remember ♪ ♪ Someone is on your side ♪ ♪ Someone else is not ♪ ♪ While you're seeing our side ♪ ♪ Maybe you forgot ♪ ♪ They are not alone ♪ ♪ For no one is alone ♪ ♪ Hard to see the light now ♪ ♪ Just don't let it go ♪ ♪ Things will come out right now ♪ ♪ We can make it so ♪ ♪ Someone is on your side ♪ ♪ No one is alone ♪ ♪ No one is alone ♪ ♪ No one is ♪ ♪ Alone ♪ [audience applauds] Certainly not me.

[laughs] [jazzy music] - [Announcer] The "American Songbook Series at NJPAC" is presented through the generous support of the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The David S Steiner and Sylvia Steiner Charitable Trust, the Joan and Allen Bildner Family Fund and the Smart Family Foundation: David S. Stone Esquire Stone and Magnanini.

♪ Oh, so lovely sittin' abso-bloomin'-lutely still ♪ ♪ I would never budge ♪ ♪ 'Til spring crept over me window sill ♪ ♪ Someone's head restin' on my knee ♪ ♪ Warm, warm and tender as he can be ♪ ♪ Who takes good care of me ♪ ♪ Oh wouldn't it be lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪ ♪ Lovely ♪