twenty-five years ago, my first professionally produced musical, fourtune was playing off-broadway at the actors playhouse … this is the lyric to the song from that score which got the most attention … and it certainly seems appropriate to post it for gay pride month … we’re putting together a staged reading of fourtune as a benefit for the gay and lesbian center on w. 13th street on august 8 and john tartaglia will be singing this song … watch this website for details …
momma used to read to me
from the brothers grimm
and i can still remember
though the scene is dim
that i had made my mind up
yes, i’d picked my role
i’d rather be a fairy
than a troll
fairies were so carefree
so full of fun
bedding down in blossoms
dancing in the sun
while trolls hid under bridges
in a deep, dank, dark hole
i’d rather be a fairy
than a troll
i’d rather be a fairy
rather be extraordinary
since i have the choice
to play a merry role
i’d rather be a fairy
than an ogre, mean and scary
i’d rather be a fairy
than a troll
all the boys around me
used to play with guns
while i was in the kitchen
baking hot-cross buns
and though they teased
their taunting did not keep me from my goal
i’d rather be a fairy than a troll
and now that i’m a grown-up
and have really been around
i’ve seen that trolls and monsters
truly do abound
they’ll eat up all the cherries
and then they’ll break the bowl
i’d rather be a fairy than a troll
now some of us have magic
we keep deep inside
or push it under bridges
where those awful ogres hide
when we only have to use it
to make life so gay and droll
i’d rather be a fairy than a troll
i’d rather be a fairy
rather be extraordinary
since i have the choice
to play a merry role
i’d rather be a fairy
than an ogre, mean and scary
i’d rather be a fairy
than a mean ole
low-life
no-class
tight ass
anger ridden
feelings hidden
double-crossin’
god damned troll!