Marvin at the Psychiatrist (A Three-Part Mini-Opera) Songtext
von William Finn

My father says that love
Is the most beautiful thing in the world
I think games are
I think chess is the most
Beautiful thing
Not love

Marvin at the psychiatrist, a three-part mini opera
Part one

Do you love him?
Sorta kinda
Do you need him?
Sorta kinda
He makes me smile a lot
Especially at mealtime
It makes me feel I′m sort of smart


Mhm
Is he special?
He's delightful
And romantic?
Yes, but spiteful
And yet it seems that so am I
Just enjoy what you can
Love the boy, not the man (Man)

Sorta stylish
Kinda very
Well, very, very sorta
And kind of hard to describe?
Yes, you know, I think that′s true
When he's naked
Yes?
Does he thrill you?
Yes
Is he vicious?
Yes
Would he kill you?
Yes
I think he's sorta kinda mean
But I love him, and I need it
If he loved me, I′d concede it


Don′t despise what you feel
Love the friend not the heel (Heel)
He's sometimes worthless
Sometimes evil
Sometimes smarmy

Part two

It′s queer, Mr. Marvin
Sorry
Jesus
It's strange, Mr. Marvin
How your wife, your ex-wife′s meager glories
Coupled with her tragic stories
Moves me in unreported ways

Now, she's a very good woman
She′s a wonderful woman
Do you mind that
She was here to speak of Jason
And I find that
I hope Jason acts out more
'Cause there's a few more things we need explored
Oh, no, I understand
Good, very good
Very very good
I feel a lot better already
Going on

Was she a vicious woman?
No
Did she beat the child?
No
Did she ever drive you wild?
No
Never?
No
Never?
No
Never, never, never, never?
No
Never?
No
Never?
No, no, no!

Was she faithful?
Be objective
Yes
She was faithful
Yes
And he last caress was
Careless
You mean "careful"?
Careful
Not to show she cared

So you weren′t prepared
For the crying
And the screaming
And the beating of the breast
I don′t want to be rude
Does she sleep in the nude?
No
No?
Going on

Did you like that?
Would she change it if she knew you didn't like that?
Did she wear a negligee?
Could you blow and it would blow away?
I don′t mean to interfere
I would like to make that very clear

Part three

My son's distressing
My father′s snide
I'm convalescing
He′s morbid and dissatisfied
What should I do now?
He loves another
I agree
I love my mother
Why not me?

We go to ball games
The ball is tossed
The pitcher's handsome
And our team lost
Is that my problem?
Should I be blamed for that?

Explore museums
Admire art
We stand together
But we stand there looking miles apart
How do I reach him?
What words of wisdom?
What should I do now?

My father says that love
Is the most beautiful thing in the world
I think games are
I think chess is the most
Beautiful thing
Not love

Marvin at the psychiatrist, a three-part mini opera
The end