Sheldon Harnick

ah me, oy vey, Sheldon Harnick has died. He was the lyricist half of Bock and Harnick, who wrote Fiddler on the Roof, Fiorello!, and She Loves Me. He also wrote musicals with other people, and before he settled in musical theater he wrote words and music for cabaret songs, a couple of which were popularized by the Kingston Trio.





This song is often credited to Tom Lehrer, because it has a similar dark humor, but no, it's by Sheldon Harnick.

Now, on to the then-acclaimed, now often forgotten Fiorello!, the tale of La Guardia's political rise. We have 1) the professional politicians preferring to play poker than to pick a candidate; 2) Fiorello's secretary frustrated after he phones to break a date with her because he's too busy working; 3) the secondary love story; 4) the politicians mocking the corruption hearings for the competing Walker administration.









And lastly, some numbers from Fiddler, just a little offbeat this time: