Lorenz Hart (1895-1943) was a highly skilled lyricist. His words for "Mountain Greenery" contain some of the most inventive rhymes I've come across. If anyone is interested in what advanced lyric rhyming looks like, these lyrics are worthwhile studying.
What is especially clever is how Hart has used the poetic device of ‘enjambment’, where the end of one phrase joins with the beginning of the next phrase, to create some of his rhymes. This is not often encountered in lyrics. (I've listed some of my favourite rhymes at the end of this post.)
Here's Mel Torme singing the song...
... and here are the lyrics...
Mountain Greenery Written in 1926 with words by Lorenz Hart & music by Richard Rodgers
[VERSE 1] On the first of May, it is moving day Spring is here, so blow your job Throw your job away Now's the time to trust To your wanderlust In the city's dust you wait, must you wait Just you wait
[REFRAIN 1] In a mountain greenery Where God paints the scenery Just two crazy people together
While you love your lover Let blue skies be your coverlet When it rains we'll laugh at the weather
And if you're good I'll search for wood So you can cook while I stand looking
Beans could get no keener Reception in a beanery Bless our mountain greenery home
[VERSE 2] Simple cooking means More than French Cuisines I've a banquet planned which is Sandwiches and beans Coffee's just as grand With a little sand Eat and you'll grow fatter, boy S'matter, boy? Huh, huh, 'atta boy
[REFRAIN 2] In a mountain greenery Where God paints the scenery Just two crazy people together
How-how-how-how-how we love sequestering Where no pests are pestering No dear momma holds us in tether
Mosquitoes here, Won't bite you dear I'll let them sting me on the finger
Beans could get no keener Reception in a beanery Bless our mountain greenery Far from life's machinery Bless our mountain greenery home
My favourite rhymes are...
"lover Let-" with "Coverlet". This rhyme uses enjambment to function.
Another enjambment-based rhyme is "keener Re-" with "beanery".
Then there are rhymes like...
blow your job / throw your job - where the end of one line rhymes with the beginning of the next line and then links to an end rhyme between day/away.
trust / wanderlust - and then this links into the rhymes, dust you wait / must you wait / just you wait.
sequestering / pestering
planned which is / sandwiches
cuisines / beans
The way I see it, such lyric writing skills are inspired genius!!!
A very interesting read here, Noel! Lorenz Hart was certainly ahead of his time. The rhyme scheme is very intriguing, but even the lyrics in themselves I find fascinating. Thanks for sharing
Last edited by Deryk - PG Music; 08/30/1704:12 AM.
I'm a big fan of clever lyrics, and Lorenz Hart was a master. Mind you, these days I feel I have the technique down, and it's more the feeling/passion that I'm after!
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