Seven Attributed To V.T.

Song Cycle by John McDonald 

Sayings by Virgil Thomson; found in A Virgil Thomson Reader, on Wikipedia, and via other sources. After taking a “Words and Music” offering given by Thomson at the Yale School of Music in 1982, I hope these lines are presented with a textual clarity that would have met with his approval. J.McD.

1.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I look at you and I write down what I hear.

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2.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I don’t go around regretting things that don’t happen.

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3.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to 
crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.

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4.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Try a thing you haven’t done three times. 
Once, to get over the fear of doing it. 
Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time 
to figure out whether you like it or not.

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5.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, 
I might as well starve where the food is good.

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6.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
You explain how it went, and as far as you 
can figure out how it got that way.

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7.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Let your mind alone, and see what happens.

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Total word count: 125