Kern–Leave Jane Siren’s Song youtub

By
In A Walkthrough Shows, Songs and More
  0

During its Broadway run, the order of the songs in the show were changed. “The Siren’s Song” was moved from Act Two to the end of Act One, Scene 1. It is sung by Jane and Bessie, and it is both a forecast and a warning. It forecasts Jane’s success in luring Billy to Atwater, but it warns both Jane and Billy of the power of seduction.

The term, siren’s song, is a reference back to classic poetry, to Homer’s second epic poem that we know best as The Odyssey. In Homer’s poem, we are told about singers who sing so beautifully that any sailor who passes within hearing is driven mad by the sound and changes course to find the singers. All of the ships are dashed to pieces on the rocks that surround the sirens. It is a suicidal mission. Beware the siren’s song!

Our song starts with Jane’s solo; then Bessie’s solo; then a duet at the 3 minute mark; adding the chorus at 3:40.