The Schmuel Song

Schmuel would work 'til half-past ten at his tailor shop in Klimovich

Get up at dawn and start again with the hems and pins and twist

41 years had come and gone at his tailor shop in Klimovich

Watching the winter's soldier on, there was one thing Schmuel missed

"If I only had time" old Schmuel said

"I would build the dress that's in my head"

"A dress to fire the mad desire of girls from here to Minsk"

"But I have no more hours left to sew"

Then the clock upon the wall began to glow

And the clock said

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"Oh, Schmuel, you'll get to be happy!"

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"I give you unlimited time!"

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"So Schmuel, go sew and be happy!"

But Schmuel said, "No, no, it's not my lot"

"I've gotta make do with the time I've got"

Schmuel was done at half-past ten, and he said, "Good night, old Klimovich"

Put on his coat to go, but then the clock cried, "Wait! Not yet!"

"Even though you're not wise or rich, you're the finest man in Klimovich"

"Listen up, Schmuel, make one stitch, and you'll see what you get"

But Schmuel said, "Clock, it's much too late"

"I'm at peace with life, I accept my fate"

But the clock said, "Schmuel! One stitch, and you will unlock the dreams you've lost!"

So Schmuel, with reluctance, took his thread

He pulled a bolt of velvet and he said

"I should take out my teeth and go to bed"

"I'm sitting her with talking clocks instead!"

And the clock said

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"Oh, Schmuel, you'll get to be happy!"

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"I give you unlimited time"

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"Just do it and you can be happy!"

So Schmuel put the thread through the needle's eye

And the moon stared down from a starless sky

And he pushed the thread through the velvet black

And he looked, and the clock was turning, back

So he grabbed his shears and he cut some lace

As the hands moved left on the old clock's face

And his fingers flew and the fabric swirled

It was nine-fifteen all around the world

Every cut and stitch was a perfect fit

As if God Himself were controlling it!

And Schmuel cried through a rush of tears

"Take me back! Take me back all 41 years!"

And on it went down that silent street

'Til Schmuel's dress was at last complete

And he stretched his arms

And he closed his eyes

And the morning sun finally started to rise

And the dress he made on that endless night

Was a dress that would make any soul take flight

Not a swatch, not a skein had gone to waste

Every ribbon and button ideally placed

And swen into the seams were 41 seasons of dreams

Dreams that you could feel

Coming real

And that very dress, so the papers swore

Was the dress a girl in Odessa wore

On the day she promised forevermore

To love a young man named Schmuel

Who only one day before

Had knocked at her kitchen door

Plenty have hoped and dreamed and prayed

But they can't get out of Klimovich

If Schmuel had been a cute goyishe maid

He'd've looked a lot like you

Maybe it's just that you're afraid to go out on to a limb-ovich

Maybe your heart's completely swayed

But your head can't follow through

But shouldn't I want the world to see

The brilliant girl who inspires me?

Don't you think that now's a good time to be

The ambitious freak you are?

Say goodbye to wiping ashtrays at the bar

Say hello to Cathy Hiatt, big-time star!

'Cause I say

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"Cathy, you get to be happy!"

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"I give you unlimited time!"

"Na na-na-na, na-na-na"

"Stop temping and go and be happy!"

Here's a headshot guy and a new backstage

Where you're right for something on every page

Take a breath

Take a step

Take a chance

Take your time

Have I mentioned today

How lucky I am

To be in love with you?!