Now lyrics

[FREDRIK]
Now
As the sweet imbecilities
Tumble so lavishly
Onto her lap...

[ANNE, spoken]
Oh Fredrik, what a day it's been. Unending drama. How Petra... 

[FREDRIK]
Now
There are two possibilities
A, I could ravish her
B, I could nap...

[ANNE, spoken]
That grumpy old Miss Nordstrom from next door? Her sister's coming for a visit. 

[FREDRIK]
Say
It's the ravishment, then we see
The option
That follows, of course:

[ANNE, spoken]
I do hope I'm imperious enough with the servants. I try to be, but half the time I think they're laughing at me. 
[FREDRIK]
A
The deployment of charm, or B
The adoption
Of physical force...

[ANNE, spoken]
And Amalia jabbering on for hours and hours

[FREDRIK]
Now, B might arouse her
But if I assume
I trip on my trouser
Leg crossing the room

[ANNE, spoken]
I can't tell you how boring it was. I'd rather have a tooth pulled. 

[FREDRIK]
Her hair getting tangled
Her stays getting snapped
My nerves would be jangled
My energy sapped...

[ANNE, spoken]
You should have seen Mrs. Erling in the fish market. 
[FREDRIK]
Removing her clothing
Would take me all day
And her subsequent loathing
Would turn me away
Which eliminates B
And which leaves us with A...

[ANNE, spoken]
Could you ever be jealous of me? Could you? Like the Moor of Venice?

[FREDRIK]
Now
Insofar as approaching it
What would be festive
But have its effect?

[ANNE, spoken]
Shall I learn Italian? I think it'd be amusing, if the verbs aren't too irregular. 

[FREDRIK]
Now, there are two ways of broaching it
A, the suggestive
And B, the direct...

[ANNE, spoken]
But then French is a much chicer language. Everyone says so. Parlez-vous français?
[FREDRIK]
Say
That I settle on B, to wit
A charmingly
Lecherous mood...

[ANNE, spoken]
I know you like my hair this way. But on top of my head, like a siren... 

[FREDRIK]
A
I could put on my nightshirt or sit
Disarmingly
B, in the nude...

[ANNE, spoken]
Oh Fredrik, you should have seen the great arrival

[FREDRIK]
That might be effective
My body's all right
But not in perspective
And not in the light

[ANNE, spoken]
Poor Henrik! How comical he looked. 

[FREDRIK]
I'm bound to be chilly
And feel a buffoon
But nightshirts are silly
In mid-afternoon...

[ANNE, spoken]
Why are virtuous people so stingy?

[FREDRIK]
Which leaves the suggestive
But how to proceed?
Although she gets restive
Perhaps I could read...

[ANNE, spoken]
He gave the coachman the tiniest tip!

[FREDRIK]
In view of her penchant
For something romantic
De Sade is too trenchant
And di*kens too frantic
And Stendhal would ruin
The plan of attack
As there isn't much blue in
The Red and The Black

[ANNE, spoken]
The poor man was so sad. 

[FREDRIK]
De Maupassant's candor
Would cause her dismay
The Brontés are grander
But not very gay
Her taste is much blander
I'm sorry to say
But is Hans Christian Ander-
Sen ever risque?
Which eliminates A...

[ANNE, spoken]
And he said "You're such a pretty lady." Wasn't that silly of him?

[FREDRIK]
Now
With my mental facilities
Partially muddied
And ready to snap...

[ANNE, spoken]
I'm sure about the bracelet. But earrings, earrings! Oh, which earrings?

[FREDRIK]
Now
Though there are possibilities
Still to be studied
I might as well nap...

[ANNE, spoken]
Mother's rubies? Or the diamonds? Agony. 

[FREDRIK]
Bow
Though I must
To adjust
My original plan...

[ANNE, spoken]
Desiree Armfeldt. I just know she'd wear the most glamorous gowns. 

[FREDRIK]
How
Shall I sleep
Half as deep
As I usually can?...

[ANNE, spoken]
Dear distinguished old Fredrik...

[FREDRIK]
When now I still want and/or love you
Now as always
Now
Anne...