A good friend of mine named Laura turned 50 years old in 2017. Since she loves musicals, her husband Greg hosted a musical themed birthday party for her. Guests were instructed to arrive at the event in the costume of a character from any musical.
I purchased some white fabric with a light green floral pattern (which looked like it should be used for curtains or drapes) and fashioned myself a “Friedrich von Trapp” costume from The Sound of Music. My lederhosen “play clothes” would have made Fräulein Maria proud!
Since this was a milestone birthday for Laura, I decided to take the musical theme one step further and compose a medley of tunes to commemorate the event. I wrote six parody songs to sing at her birthday party. The first is a short introduction, followed by tunes that related directly to the birthday girl.
–
To the tune of The Sound of Music:
The ‘burbs are alive
With the sound of birthday.
You know you will hear
What you’ve heard before.
Your friends gather ’round
To wish “Happy Birthday.”
And we’ll sing…
Once more…
–
To the tune of My Favorite Things:
Movies with Elvis and Stars that are Dancing,
Stay at home parties but nothing too fancy,
Musical numbers that make us all sing,
These are a few of your favorite things.
Ham sauce at Easter and Thanksgiving dinner,
Nieces and nephews are surely a winner,
Tropic vacations and drinks on the beach,
These are a few of your favorite things!
When the job bites,
When you can’t sleep,
When you’re feeling sad,
Just simply remember your favorite things,
And then you won’t feel so bad.
–
To the tune of Sixteen Going on Seventeen:
You’re not sixty going on seventy,
Laura, you’re still quite young.
We think you’re nifty,
Now that you’re fifty.
Laura, you’ve just begun.
You are someone older and wiser,
Telling Greg what to do.
Surely he’s able to set the table.
He will…. serve cake…. to you!
–
To the tune of The Lonely Goatherd:
One little girl with her age much higher,
Laurie odl, Laurie odl, Laurie-do!
She yodeled back to the guy named Dreyer,
Greg-ee odl, Greg-ee odl-oo!
Friends giving gifts wonder what to buy her,
Laurie odl, Laurie odl, Laurie-do!
Just wear a costume is what’s required,
Laurie odl, Laurie odl-oo!
O-ho, have a happy birthday,
O-ho, have a happy day,
O-ho, have a happy birthday,
Have a piece of birthday cake!
Lighting the candles on cake required,
Laurie odl, Laurie odl, Laurie-do!
Look at the cake, that it’s now on fire!
Laurie odl, Laurie odl-oo!
–
To the tune of So Long, Farewell:
There’s a glad sort of singing
From the crowd in the house
And the scent of some candles too.
And up from the suburbs
An assortment of your friends
Are stopping by to say “Laurie-do”
(Laurie-do…. Laurie-do….)
They happily implore us
To sing out like a chorus
And say goodbye…. to your youth!
So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, good night.
You’re wise, but old; I cannot tell a lie.
So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu.
The A A R P card applies to you!
So long, farewell,
Au revoir, Auf Wiedersehen.
You’ll need some dye in case your hair turns gray!
So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, good night,
Your youth…. has gone…. to bed, so say goodbye….
Goodbye…. Goodbye…. Goodbye…. Goodbye….
–
To the tune of Maria:
How do you solve a problem like a birthday?
How do you take your age and slow it down?
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
With French onion dip
and potato chips, that’s how!
Many a thing you know we’d like to grant you.
Many a wish to follow forty-nine.
But how do you keep your youth?
I’m telling you all the truth,
That life beyond your forties will be fine.
So, how do you solve a problem like a birthday?
Just tell the world your age is twenty-nine…