"Being Alive," by Stephen Sondheim, 5

      At the end of Bobby's song, the words "being alive" are sung three times, meaning something a little different and a little more each time in accord with Bobby's progression:   surviving the challenges of "being alive"; going through those together is "being alive"; and what life's about, "being alive!"

       There's a beginning, middle, and end in "Being Alive," it develops, and Bobby is NOT in the same place at the end as he was at the beginning.  Stephen Sondheim has thrillingly fulfilled the prescription of his mentor Oscar Hammerstein for lyrics in a musical.

       As for words, well Sondheim must have to pay words overtime for making them do so much for him.

       In the new documentary film Six by Sondheim, you'll see Dean Jones give a memorable and moving performance of "Being Alive."