TUNESMITH TUESDAY - "The Money Song" - from Avenue Q

Okay, full disclosure here. I'm going to do the LA Marathon again this year (despite my own internal blood vow to the contrary I made at the end of the last one), but this time I'm doing it for a charity. My dive buddy Erin is really into this group called "Kitten Rescue", and we're doing it to raise them some money. It's a good cause, and it would be suh-weet if any of you could donate any amount of money to it. This will take you right to the donation page. 

SO...

With that out of the way, I thought it might be apropos to offer you up a little sump'n sump'n from Avenue Q (If you haven't seen it, you should. It's sort of like a dirty Sesame Street, and it beat out Wicked to win the Best Musical Tony Award in 2004)

Enjoy.

Nicky:

Help the homeless!

Help the homeless!

Ooh! Hey Princeton!

Give me a quarter!

Here in my hat!

Come on, Princeton!

It's as easy as that!

Helping others brings you

Closer to God.

So give me a quarter...

Princeton:

I don't have any change.

Nicky:

Hmmm.... Okay.

Give me a dollar.

Princeton:

That's not what I meant.

Nicky:

Give me a five.

Princeton:

Are you kidding?

Nicky:

The more you give.

The more you get.

That's being alive!

All I'm asking you

Is to do what

Jesus Christ would do.

He'd give me a quarter,

Why don't you?

Princeton:

All right, all right, here you go.

Nicky:

Ahh, thanks!

Princeton:

Take care.

Whoa!

Nicky:

What's the matter?

Princeton:

I feel generous!

I feel compassionate!

Nicky:

You do?

Princeton:

Yeah! I feel like a new person - a good person!

Helping other people out makes you feel fantastic!

Nicky:

That's what I've been trying to tell you-

Princeton:

All this time I've been running around thinking

About me, me, me - and where has it gotten me!

I'm gonna do something for someone else!

Nicky:

Me?

Princeton:

No - Kate! I'm going to raise the money to build that

Stupid Monster School she's always talking about!

Give me your money!

Nicky:

What?

Princeton:

I need it for Kate!

Nicky:

I need it to eat!

Princeton:

Come on, Nicky!

Nicky:

Aww, get lost!

Princeton:

It'll make you feel great!

Nicky:

So would a burger!

Princeton:

When her dream comes true,

It'll all be partly

Thanks to you

So give me your money!

Nicky:

I'd like to, but I can't.

Princeton:

Give me your money!

Nicky:

I'd like to, but I need it!

Princeton:

Give me your money!

Nicky:

I'd like to, but I'm homeless!

I can't! I need it! I'm homeless!

I can't! I need it! I'm homeless!

I can't! I need it! I'm homeless!

Okay, here you go.

Princeton:

Thank you!

Nicky:

Suddenly,

I am feeling

Closer to God.

It's time to stop begging

It's time to start giving!

What can I give to Rod?

Something he'll like so much he'll take me back.

Ooh, I know! I'll find him a boyfriend!

Princeton:

That's the spirit!

Both:

When you help others,

You can't help helping yourself!

When you help others,

You can't help helping yourself!

Gary Coleman:

Hey boys, what's the hat for?

Nicky:

Ooh, we're collecting money!

Princeton:

It's for Kate! We're raising money to help build her dream school!

Give us your money!

Nicky:

You'll be glad that you did!

Gary Coleman:

That's just what my parents told me

When I was a kid.

Shit.

Nicky:

But giving feels so great...

Gary Coleman:

And I bet it wouldn't hurt

Your chances with Kate.

Princeton:

Well, that too.

Gary Coleman:

I'll give you a dollar.

Princeton:

You're a gentleman

And a scholar.

Christmas Eve:

We so happy! We just exchange all your wedding gifts for cash!

Brian:

Honey, don't tell them that!

Christmas Eve:

We get about 2, 000 bucks!

Brian:

Uh, yeah, so - thanks, everybody!

Christmas Eve:

We rich!

Princeton:

Give us your money!

Nicky:

Give us your money!

Gary Coleman:

Give us your goddamn money!

Princeton:

Give us the dough!

Nicky/Gary Coleman

Give us the dough!

Princeton/Nicky/Gary Coleman

We're raising money

For a Monster School

But we've got a ways to go.

Princeton:

Sounds like you've

Got money to burn

Nicky:

And it's not like money

That you had to earn.

Princeton/Nicky/Gary Coleman:

So give us your money -

Christmas Eve:

A monster school?

Brian:

Sounds like a good cause.

Christmas Eve:

Give me your wallet.

Princeton:

Oh my gosh! I don't know how to thank you guys.

I mean, Kate will be so grateful!

That kind of money is such a great start...

Gary Coleman:

Yeah, $15.

Princeton:

$15?

Christmas Eve:

Every little bit help.

Nicky:

Looks like we're gonna have to ask more people!

All:

Hey!

Give us your money!

All that you've got!

Just fork it on over...

Gary Coleman:

Or some puppets

Will get shot!

Princeton:

Hey!

All:

It's time to pass the hat

Gary Coleman:

And there's nothing you can do 'bout that

All:

So give us your money!

Give us your money!

Give us your money!

When you help others,

You can't help helping yourself!

When you help others,

You can't help helping yourself!

Every time you

Do good deeds

You're also serving

Your own needs.

When you help others,

You can't help helping yourself!

When you give

To a worthy cause

You'll feel as jolly

As Santa Clause.

When you help others,

You can't

Help

Helping yourself!