Composer

:

Kurt Weill

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Show Tune

Compose Date

:

Jun 1943 - Sep 1943

Publication Date

:

1943

First Performance

:

Oct 7, 1943

Average_duration

:

3:43

"I'm a Stranger Here Myself" is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Ogden Nash. It was written for the musical "One Touch of Venus," which premiered on Broadway in 1943. The song is a solo for the character of Rodney Hatch, an American soldier who finds himself in a surreal world after encountering the statue of Venus. The song is in the key of F major and has a moderate tempo. It is structured in an AABA form, with the A sections featuring a syncopated melody and the B section providing a contrast with a more lyrical melody. The song is characterized by its witty lyrics, which play on the theme of cultural dislocation and the absurdity of the situation in which the character finds himself. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with Hatch singing, "I'm a stranger here myself / Why this is heaven to no one else / Where else can I go / Where feet don't fail me / Where they don't treat you lowly / Where everyone goes / I'm a stranger here myself." The lyrics play on the idea of heaven being a place where one feels at home, but for Hatch, the surreal world he finds himself in is the opposite of home. The second verse continues the theme of cultural dislocation, with Hatch singing, "I bow my head to a dryad / Or a sprite or a naiad / Or a goblin or a gnome / And I haven't got pneumonia / And I haven't got a phone-ya / And I haven't got a home." The lyrics play on the idea of mythical creatures and the absurdity of not having a phone or a home in a world where technology and shelter are taken for granted. The third verse provides a contrast to the previous two, with Hatch singing, "I'm a stranger in paradise / All lost in a wonderland / A stranger in paradise / If I stand starry-eyed / That's a danger in paradise / For mortals who stand beside an angel like you." The lyrics shift from the theme of cultural dislocation to a more romantic theme, with Hatch expressing his love for the character of Venus. Overall, "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" is a witty and charming song that captures the absurdity of cultural dislocation and the surreal world of "One Touch of Venus." Its catchy melody and clever lyrics have made it a popular song in the American songbook.

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