A few weeks have gone by since the last post due to some wonderful time spent in Italy.
Rome, Florence, Siena, Tuscany, Venice…,
Venice?
I believe Venice has something to do with Othello. I managed one or two random thoughts about the play while I was waiting for vaporetti.
Okay, let’s pick up where this narrative left off prior to my truly wonderful sojourn in the land of great espresso, fine wine and terrific food.
Oh, there was a lot of old stuff to look at too.
So, Odelle has just told Jimmy how smitten he is with Mona. He walks off to join the big party at the Venetian Room in Hank Desmond’s hotel leaving Jimmy to deliver this aside.
Jimmy’s music in this show is more sophisticated than that of the other characters. There also tends to be a lot of upward motion in his music to suggest his ascendance. Here he is letting us know he has an axe to grind and that Odelle is the target. Jimmy is a nasty piece of work full of meanness, hate and calculated cunning.
I Keep My Cool
1
They say only a fool loses his cool and I’m tellin’ you, I ain’t no fool.
You lookin’ at a man who can think and who can wait.
You see folks laughin’ you see ’em cryin’ they’s up, they’s down there’s no denyin’
Their emotions they just blow them away.
But I keep my cool, I just wait and I keep my cool.
2
Now that man who just walked away, I know he was sleepin’ with my babe,
While I was inside, doin’ my time.
Well I can play like I’m happy to see an old friend, he’ll never guess I’m here for revenge,
Yeah baby, I’s here. Yes I’s here to collect what is mine.
And I’ll keep my cool, I’ll wait and I’ll keep my cool.
Oh I’ll play it cool, keep my head and I’ll play it cool.
‘Cause I ain’t no fool, they get hot and I stay cool.