I never really got into musicals, never really seemed to be my thing.
But I was always drawn the the story and the music of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ by Andrew Loyd Webber.
In general I like the stories of serendipitous love, unrequited love, soul mates, love never dies, that sort of thing.
I think I first began listening to the soundtrack back in the late 80s/early 90s.
Then when I was in college I dated this girl (who I fell head over heels for and we dated for a time) I heard Phantom was coming to the Fox Theater in STL.
I jumped at the chance to get tickets.
It was and still is probably one of the most romantic dates I ever went on.
I picked her up from her apartment and took her to a nice Italian restaurant.
We had dinner by candlelight. Afterwards I drove us down to the Fox and showed the usher our tickets and he directed us to where our seats were.
He kept walking closer and closer to center stage. I could hear my date giggling with delight as she figured out I had scored some really good seats for us.
The lights went dark, the curtain lifted, the dialog and the music started. I still remember the huge chandelier plunging to the stage and the heat that come off of it from the pyrotechnics.
We held hands and I quietly hummed the music that I had grown to know and love.
Fast forward 25 years later and I took that same girl to the exact same theater for a similar date.
Here we are a quarter of a century older…
Lyrics from the song ‘All I Ask of You’
From The Phantom Of The Opera
By Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe, & Andrew Loyd Webber
No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I’m here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you
Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I’m here with you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you…
Say you love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of summertime…
Say you need me with you now and always…
Promise me that all you say is true
That’s all I ask of you
Let me be your shelter
Let me be your light
You’re safe, No one will find you
Your fears are far behind you…
All I want is freedom
A world with no more night
And you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me…
Then say you’ll share with me
One love, one lifetime
Let me lead you from your solitude
Say you need me with you here, beside you…
Anywhere you go, let me go too
Christine, that’s all I ask of you…
Say you’ll share with me one love, one lifetime…
Say the word and I will follow you…
Share each day with me
Each night, each morning…
Say you love me…
You know I do…
Love me – that’s all I ask of you
Anywhere you go let me go too
Love me – that’s all I ask of you…