#tryin to write but the sun is melting my brain

[erebius-a]

heat wave + very few days off is killing me BUT this is the last week i only have one day off for a While so maybe ( MAYBE ) ill get back to writing tomorrow :)

[coneedogawa]

Hot

For @heizuhaevents‘s Heizuha Week 2023 Event. This is for the prompts: Summer homework, Melting, Heat. It’s really short because I don’t have much of the energy to write but hopefully it’s at least somewhat enjoyable. : )

“It’s so hot~!” Kazuha whined. Her AC was busted and as such she’s been burning in the sun for the past 2 hours. To make matters worse, the teacher gave them extra difficult math homework to complete over their break. The heat was only making the assignment harder to complete.

Normally, she’d turn to Heiji for help completing the assignment. As much as he’d groan about how much of a bother it was, he always said yes anyways. However, this time, Heiji was busy practicing Kendo for an upcoming tournament, so he’d have no time to-

“Oi Kazuha, ya really should crank up the AC here!”

-come help her? 

She turned her head to the doorway, watching him wipe his forehead to emphasize his comment. Her eyes turned into half moons as she glared at him.

“The air conditionin’s busted.”

His mouth formed a little ‘o’ as he began examining the damage. “What did ya do ta it? It’s nearly in pieces!”

Turning back to her homework, she scoffed, “I accidentally dropped it tryin’ ta get it in the window. Don’t ya have Kendo practice ta get back ta?”

“Ouch, tryin’ ta kick me out that quickly?” She chose to ignore him, focusing on the next problem.

“Kazuha?”

‘Find X. Well, there’s 5 X’s here and these 3 are squared so if I factor them out…?’

“Kazuha…”

‘Now that’s 11 X’s… Why are there so many?’

“Fine. Ignore me. I can go back ta Kendo. ‘Was just thinkin’ I’d help ya with yer homework but-” He began to walk out the door but she yanked his sleeve to pull him back.

“Wait! Please help me~!” She gave him her classic pleading eyes.

He chuckled before turning back around and crouching down next to her. “Fine.”

30 minutes passed and the heat only seemed to get worse. Heiji had abandoned his shirt about 15 minutes in and Kazuha was desperately trying to keep her eyes from wandering towards his toned chest. One thing she had come to realize as they grew older was just how physically fit her best friend was. Especially now, after years of kendo and chasing criminals. He was very… hot, to put it simply, and she was pretty sure the heat was getting to her head. It was no wonder why he had so many fans.

“Now you want to take the X and… Kazuha?” He raised an eyebrow at her as she snapped her eyes up from his body to his face and then back to the problem.

“I-I’m payin’ attention!” She yelped.

He grew concerned, placing his hand on her shoulder.. “Do ya need water? Ya look dazed.”

“I’m fine.” Her face grew red with his touch as she jerked her head away from him.

‘This idiot’

Heiji sighed as he stood and stretched his arms and legs out. “Maybe it’s best we get somewhere cooler.” As his arms raised, his chest became more prominent, catching her attention once again. She could see his muscles ripple with his stretching and his chest rising with each slow breath. Suddenly, her brain became mush again and she could no longer process anything else.

“We could go out for some ice cream or somethin’?” Being as distracted with his chest as she was, she didn’t notice his face go red as he proposed the idea. 

She also didn’t notice how his face got even redder as he noticed her silence and followed her eyes to his chest.

“Uhh… Kazuha? Are ya... starin’ at my chest?” He asked nervously, almost unbelieving.

Finally her brain snapped back to attention. “H-Huh? Yer chest? I uh…” It took a minute before she fully processed his question. The red on her face grew even more vibrant as she squeaked. “N-no! I wasn’t! I was uh… lost in thought about the next few math problems! They look really tricky!” She laughed nervously.

For a moment, he seemed confused. Then his eyes grew wide in realization and started to smile, his face turning even more red. “Well… let’s just ignore the assignment for now and go get ice cream.” Without giving her time to respond he walked out of the room with a wide grin.

Kazuha stared at the open door, somewhat confused by his demeanor.

“By the way, ya were on the last problem, dumbass!” She heard him yell from downstairs. 

Her eyes widened she blushed in embarrassment. 

“Huh?!”

[the-canary]

Good Timing - S.R (10/10)

Summary:  The music always starts at 5 am every morning since your new neighbor moved in leading to your dog promptly as soon as he wakes up. What will you do with that time spent with him? (Modern!Reader/Steve Rogers)  

Prompt: The guy living below me has a really loud alarm clock that always wakes me up at the crack of dawn.

A/N: This is for @sebashtiansatan ‘s writing challenge. i’m sorry that it took awhile, but hopefully you’ll enjoy it!

Feedback is always welcomed.

Ollie leaves his little apartment and Steve is at a loss for the next two weeks.

It’s takes him awhile to realize of this loss though. He had been excited over the fact that there was a little girl and her dad that wanted to see Oliver during an upcoming adoption event, and Steve was sure that sure that they were going to love the little scamp either way.

“He’s the sweetest thing,” he remembers you saying to the mother and stepfather who were a bit more on the cautious side, as they watched him interact with Sugar, “All the neighbors love him and even Sug too, though that took him a little more work.”

All three adults look at you and then at the girl --Cassie, if he remembers correctly-- getting along with the two dogs. Then, they look at Steve since he was the one that actually took care of him.

“She’s right,” he feels himself saying, but he isn’t quite there as well, “He does great in any situation. I’m sure they’re gonna be great pals.”

The mother leans down to take a closer look at Oliver and that’s when he does it -licks her and lets out a happy, welcoming bark. The scene all melts from there as the family soon welcome its newest member into the mix, while also patting and greeting Sugar as well.

“They love him,” you whisper to his right side, as Steve can only nod while watching the heartwarming scene as he feels a small lump in his throat that stops him from talking completely. He feels something slip into his hand and grasp onto it tightly as Sugar sits at his feet.

“He’s gonna be so happy,” you try your best to reassure him, as Steve sees the family keep loving on the little dog that for a short time was his best pal.

You aren’t surprised that Steve doesn’t show up the following day after he had left your apartment that evening he had given Oliver to his new, permanent family. As much as, Steve hadn’t wanted to admit it, he had grown close to the little fella in a very short amount of time.

Sugar whines at the front door once more, as if trying to catch your attention.

“Come back to bed, Sug,” you state while grabbing your mug of coffee,”I don’t think he’s coming today.”

She lets out a sad whine, before following you to the back of the apartment for more naps and cuddles.

While, deep down you were hoping to share some time with him, you also understood that Steve needed some time to handle everything on his own as well.

“So...is this about the dog or the young lady, Steve?”

“....”

“Ah, both then.”

And thus with a little help, Steve is finally able to settle his thoughts about everything and for once in a very long time, he knows how he wants to move forward in life.

You can’t help but wonder if this was how Steve felt when he didn’t see you in that one week, however that also meant you thought that he was in love with you. And over the course of your time with him and Ollie, you thought that your feelings might be mutual -- you shared your apartments and time. You talked about your dreams and fears late into the night. He and the pup had become a fixture in your apartment through different times through the day, almost everyday.

But now, you weren’t so sure. maybe , it had just been the idea of having the two dogs together, that you were helping him with Oliver that set the happy make believe that you could be together -- that you could see yourself like this...with him for a very long time.

There wasn’t anymore late night visits, any morning texts or messages, there wasn’t even any loud music to brother from up above.

Steve had left just like he has entered your life and you weren’t sure how to do in the aftermath of it all, but you were sure that as long as you had Sugar --like you always did-- everything was going to be alright.

It’s goes on like this for a month between work and taking Sugar out to new places, you don’t really find time to be at home and while you hate it -- you have new memories with her and the others that you care about. Hell, you had even gone to see Ollie and Cassie twice now, much to Sugar’s displeasure. However, there was still no sign of Steve -- that was until one fine Saturday morning.

Like always, Sugar notices it before you though, as she wakes with excited barking and shuffling around the front door as you let out a yawn -- still too tired to fully understand what was going but knowing that Sugar wouldn’t stop unless you did what she wanted.

“Hold your horses, Sug,” you yawn out as she lets out what almost sounds like a yip in your hazy brain.

Once you open the door, it takes you even longer to comprehend that Steve is standing there a little worse for wear in his familiar outfit of sweats and a hoodie, but his hair was longer and he was now sporting a beard. He gives you an awkward and timid smile, as Sugar’s need for attention brings him down to her level.

You stand there confused, unsure of what is going on until he gets back up again and his eyes are all on you.

“Hey,” he manages to say as you echo it back to him, “I was wondering if we could take Sugar for  a walk today.”

“I--” you stutter out, ready to reject him out of fear and a mixture of emotions you still aren’t used to handling, but Steve seems to notice that as well as he cuts you off.

“Just a talk, please,” he adds with a tone of desperation and longing you aren’t used to from the man, “There’s a lot I want to explain and if you don’t like what ya hear...then I’ll never bother you again. But, please.”

At least he knows that he is on thin ice, though maybe not fully understanding that a simple talk wasn’t going to fix anything you guys had had before Oliver had been adopted -- you were to afraid to question those feelings and his all over again. However, as you glance at Sugar --her tail wagging and her eyes full of adoration for the man-- you knew that you had to take a page from her book and at least give him a chance.    

“Could you wait in the living room while I get ready?” is all you say before opening the door a bit more and letting the man in, though he gets the feeling he isn’t allowed anywhere -- you had closed off your home to him, but at least you hadn’t such the door on his face like he thought you would.

Without another word, you go back into your room and leave Steve to sit on the couch with Sugar to get ready to pounce on him when he does -- if only everything was just that easy.

You end up talking a long walk around one of Sugar’s favorite parks -- not the one with the large puddle but the one with the friendly dog coffee just across the street. Though, Steve in a mess of nerves starts talking before you even reach the place, settled on a bench with the perfect amount shade as you watch Sugar play with some of the other dogs.

You’re staring at her when Steve starts talking -- about the his mom, the war, and a lot of other things that seems to muddle together in his nervousness. However, his blue eyes are always on you -- watching how you take everything in without any judgement and even a small hint that you might understand him and this unbearable fear he has of being alone but pushing people away all at the same time.

“It came back when Ollie got adopted,” Steve goes on to talk about the beagle puppy, “All the fear came rushing back and I needed to pull away, though it wasn’t right for me to do so without telling you.”

You frown, but you understand him a bit too well since you had done the same thing as well. If you really thought about it, you both were just lonely people starved of human interaction. It was luck that you had found each other, but to make it all work -- well, that required a lot of work from both your ends.

“Steve,” you start off and he swears his heart jumps just a little at the sound of his name from your lips, “Why are you telling me all this? What do you want? ”

He smiles at as he turns to look at you -- really look at the way your skin colors takes in the sun, how sleep deprived you are from working so many others, how you closed yourself in but still held a sympathetic look in your eyes. There were so things he knew, but there was so much more to learn as well. And he would be willing to take all the time in the world to do so, if you let him.

“I’m tryin’ to say that I wanna spend time with you and Sugar again,” Steve explains as he takes your hand into his and rubs your knuckles with his thumb, “I don’t wanna keep losing the precious things I have because I was afraid. Gotta take life and make it my own for once.”

“If you have me as a friend, I’ll be okay with that,” Steve answers back in the softest voice possible, “But I’ve realized that that I really like you and I wanna try this with you, if you’ll have me,”

Your mouth drops for a second, as he keeps looking at you earnestly and in the moment you know that Steve is being honest and that even though it might hurt, he was ready for your rejection. And while you knew it was at the time of your tongue, you had also realized that Stevee made a point -- you couldn’t live in a bubble your whole life and even if he didn’t know it now he had certainly opened it for you since the day you had heard that too loud music from the upstairs apartment.

You let out a small laugh and grasp his hand a little together, “I wouldn’t mind if we take is slow and steady.”

A beautiful smile blooms on his face as he nods, “Anything you want.”

You nod and seal the deal with a peak on the cheek before bursting in a nervous fit of laughter with him. Sugar -dirty but still full of energy- running over to you in excitement over the noises you were making, understanding that her humans were once again happy with each other, though maybe a little mad at her once she shakes and gets mud on their clothes.

And maybe on way back to the apartment, you’ll take a detour to Clint’s or maybe that dog cafe if they allow dirty patrons. Surely, you’ll talk and laugh along the way as you talk about Oliver and Cassie while Steve thinks about fostering another dog a little the road.

It was awkward but you would surely get there because you had each other and Sugar along for the ride -- the timing might be a little rough, but it would lead to nothing but happy and loving memories...you both knew that now.  

[kbstories]

Finally got around to writing my part of the gift exchange with @nateobite who wished for some bottom!Charles :3c

Just For The Moment

Tags: PWP, Outdoor Sex, Barebacking, Rimming, Dirty Talk, Body Worship... I think that’s it

Spoiler warning for Chapter 4.

>>Read on AO3!

Arthur is down to his jeans when Charles pipes up from where he's watching him undress a few feet up the peer, mouth pulled into a skeptical frown.

“And you're sure he won't mind?”

With a clink of spurs, Arthur's boots are thrown on the growing pile of clothes by the lakeside. “Who, Hamish? Nah. Real relaxed, him. You'll be just fine.” Arthur pauses, jeans unbuttoned and hanging low on his hips.

“Was his idea, now that I think back on it. 's been tryin' to meet 'that feller of mine' for a while now, heh.”

Closer than expected, Charles asks, “What did you tell him?”, his hands ghosting over the line of hair down Arthur's stomach to settle on his waist. Arthur leans into Charles's bulk behind him, hums a happy note at the kiss Charles gives his freckled shoulders.

“Nothin'. Figured it out a few huntin' trips in, clever fox he is. 'Cut the crap, son', he said– Remember Hosea's no-bullshit-voice? Exactly like that.”

“Sounds like I should be worried, then. Hosea had me shaking in my boots when he gave me the talk.”

Arthur snorts, twisting his neck to catch the look in Charles's eyes, watching his lips twitch like he's trying not to smile. “The talk? Oh, he didn't–“

“Oh he did. 'Break his heart, I'll break your face', the whole thing. I believed him on the spot.” Charles shakes his head with a fond sigh. “Was a good man, Hosea.”

“The very best.”

Arthur takes a slow breath, taking comfort in the mountain air that tastes of morning dew and pines – the familiar weight of Hosea's loss curls in his chest, a little less heavy every day. “In any case”, he says, patting the back of Charles's hand in a wordless gesture to let go.

“You got a week to think of an escape plan. So, Mr. Smith, ya fancy a swim with me or do I gotta go all by my lonesome?”

Charles nudges him towards the water's edge, then, finally allowing his smile to show; it's Arthur's favorite, the one that makes the corners of his eyes crinkle and his eyes glint.

“Go ahead. I'll join you in a bit.”

*

It's been years, a decade, maybe, since Arthur went skinny-dipping just for the hell of it.

The lake's clear depths are pleasantly warm, for the most part, only its very center retaining some of the perpetual chill clinging to these parts. Arthur floats aimlessly on his back, feeling a sense of peace settling into his very bones as he stares up and into the expanse of the cloudless sky. One by one, each of his worries give way to endless blue.

He feels rather than hears Charles approach, the water shifting around his swift strokes. “This is what you call swimming?”, he teases somewhere from his right, voice light, and soon after warm fingers wrap around Arthur's and tug, once.

“C'mon, cowboy.”

The midday sun comes and goes above them, and Arthur's limbs are heavy with fatigue by the time he follows Charles onto the peer. It's no longer empty but covered by an array of blankets and some pillows he must've found inside somewhere.

Arthur asks, “What's this?”, glancing unabashedly at the shifting muscles of Charles's back and ass as he makes himself at home in the makeshift nest. Charles meets his eyes and smiles, stretching languidly to let him watch his fill, utterly comfortable in his own skin.

“You said nobody comes by these parts so...” The sentence is finished with a shrug. “Been a while since we got to relax.”

“Almost forgot what it's like”, Arthur agrees and crawls into place beside him. Charles's gaze is on him, roaming over his naked body in a way that makes a warm feeling spread in his chest, down to his very core.

Months ago, it would've mostly made him anxious; now, Arthur just raises an eyebrow – Like what you see? – and Charles hums, propping himself up on his elbows to give him a kiss.

Up here, there's nothing much to do. Hamish had merely asked for them to look after his lakeside cabin while he's taking care of some things in the city, and given how oppressive things have been at camp, Arthur jumped at the chance to get away for a while.

Charles, too, looks like he sorely needed the break: lounging on his belly with his eyes closed, his face loses some of its usual seriousness, a quiet sigh leaving the corners of his mouth slightly curved upwards. Arthur can't resist playing with his hair, for once out of that tight braid and flowing in loose strands over his back, and he follows one of them all the way up to his shaved sides. “I really like this”, he tells him, palms gliding over velvety smoothness and coming away wet.

Charles blinks, looking at him through half-closed lids, mumbles, “Yeah?”, like he wants to say more but can't be bothered to search for words.

“Mhm. It suits ya.”

The sun is hiding behind the surrounding trees, shining golden patterns on Charles's skin that Arthur traces with his fingers. He comes across a few scars, some faded, some not, and gently kisses away the drops of water clinging to them. Charles rumbles wordlessly, nods at the question of “May I?” Arthur breathes against his spine, shifts to his side to allow Arthur's hands to roam over his chest, too.

He's warm under his touch, the soft give of his stomach and muscular pecs something Arthur could lose himself in for hours. Arthur felt a little faint the first time he saw him chop enough wood to keep the fires going for hours, slinging the filled bundle over his shoulder like it weighed nothing at all – but it's his inner strength, this sense of perseverance and pride in everything he does that drew Arthur in the most.

And he's all his, now. Arthur scatters kisses over Charles's shoulders, the back of his neck, lingers over the spot under his ear that makes his toes curl without fail and hums as Charles shivers under his lips. Arthur whispers, “Turn around for me, sugar”, and it's humbling, in a way, that Charles does without hesitation, legs falling open in invitation.

Arousal hits Arthur like a punch to the gut, taking away his breath. “I'm a lucky, lucky man”, he rasps; Charles merely smirks and pulls him close.

Settling between his powerful thighs, Arthur leans into a kiss that is one part heat and two parts comfort, sneaking a glance at Charles's expression and how all tension melts away under the attention. Charles kisses like he doesn't expect to get another chance, a little too intense, and Arthur lets him take whatever he needs, moaning into the urgent slide of Charles's tongue against his.

“Got all week”, Arthur reminds him, voice reduced to a husky whisper as he nips at the stubble on Charles's chin and down his neck. “Been meanin' to take my time with ya, just like this.”

“Guess that makes me the lucky one”, Charles says with a chuckle; it gets lost in a groan when Arthur licks over his nipple, worrying it until it's stiff and sensitive under his lips and Charles's hips move, grinding against him.

“Arthur...”

Putting his weight into it, Arthur pins him down, grinning as Charles's cock twitches against his. “Patience, love.” He runs his hands down his sides, presses a placating kiss to his sternum. “I'll make it worth your while.”

Arthur doesn't tease him too long, however, chasing after the soft noises Charles makes when he works his way down the trail of hair to where he's hard and wanting. Despite his lack of experience he knows Charles, knows he likes it when he takes the time to kiss and lick at his shaft before putting the crown in his mouth.

To try and fit everything inside is futile – Arthur takes enough to feel the weight of his cock on his tongue, until Charles falls back into the pillows and moans, arching into it. “Feels so good”, he praises, breathless in a way that makes Arthur's spine tingle, his own cock hanging heavy between his legs.

It doesn't take long before Charles buries one hand in Arthur's hair, the other clenching in the fabric of the blanket. He chokes out a warning but Arthur keeps him in place, groaning as he tastes the first spurt of Charles's orgasm and swallows until he has nothing left to give.

Charles slumps under his hands, laughing quietly at the kisses Arthur presses to his thighs. “Not done yet, hm? Give me a minute, my brain's not working.”

Arthur grins up at him, giving his softening cock one last peck before busying himself elsewhere, exploring the gentle slopes and valleys of Charles's abdomen and the sweat gathering there. “Gorgeous”, he mutters, tasting salt on his lips.

“Dunno how I deserve you, Charles.”

“You do”, Charles replies simply, running his fingers through Arthur's hair. “C'mere, let me kiss you.”

Crawling up, Arthur practically falls into his arms, ignoring the need thrumming in his veins as Charles draws him into a slow kiss. Home has always been a difficult thing for Arthur to define but in Charles's arms, with their lips coming together again and again, he might've found it: the place he wants to return to, always.

Here, Arthur doesn't have to think twice before he moans, “Charles”, voice full of want, and Charles hums against his lips and nods, gaze intense as he says, “Want you inside, Arthur.”

It takes a bit for both of them to get comfortable, Charles on his stomach and Arthur kneeling between his thighs, fingers slicked with some leftover Ginseng oil he found after some digging in his satchel. Rubbing a hand up and down Charles's lower back, Arthur asks, “You sure?”, chuckling as his partner merely huffs and spreads his legs a little wider.

If Arthur's patience was frayed before, it's all the more so when he pushes two inside and hears Charles's breathing hitch, exhales coming in muffled mmhs as he stretches him out. Arthur tugs at himself once or twice, cock blushed red and wet at the tip, biting his bottom lip until it stings – only after Charles gets his knees under himself to push into his hand does he pull out, kissing away the protesting whine he makes.

“Not yet”, he tells him breathlessly, matching Charles's groan with one of his own at the first, long thrust that has him seeing stars. “Fuck, Charles, so good.”

Arthur opens him up bit by bit, driving in deeper every time until his pelvis presses against Charles's ass and his length is buried in tight heat. Panting, he slows down to take in the view: Charles, on his knees and elbows, hair tossed over one shoulder and leaving his lovely back bared, muscles shining with sweat and working every time Arthur as much as shifts inside him.

Arthur whispers, “C'mere, baby”, cupping Charles's jaw to direct him into a kiss, open-mouthed and sloppy. “Takin' me so well. How're ya feelin'?”

Charles answers huskily, “Good. Full.” He nips at Arthur's lips, moaning at the hard thrust Arthur gives him. “Fuck, keep going, please–”

“I gotcha”, Arthur promises. Blindly, he grabs for a pillow to shove under Charles's hips before he flattens him against it, taking him with forceful strokes that have Charles quickly dissolving into panted moans, ah ah ah, lost to the solitude of the lake around them.

Arthur's vision goes hazy, eyes half-lidded, struggling to focus on anything other than how slick and loose Charles is for him, how every time he clenches around him, Arthur is nudged closer and closer to finishing. “Gonna come”, he slurs against his shoulder, holding himself up with one hand and clinging to Charles's hip with the other, pulling him into each move.

Charles nods, too far gone for words, opens his mouth in a silent moan when Arthur shoves himself inside and pulses, filling him up in four, five thrusts. Ears ringing, he leans against Charles and gasps for breath, caressing his heaving sides until his cock goes soft and threatens to slip out.

“Stay like that”, he mumbles into Charles's ear, scraping together the last of his concentration as he presses heated kisses down the arch of his spine. His entrance is pliant under Arthur's thumb, wet with his spend. Charles curses weakly, “Oh fuck”, voice a hoarse mess – he pushes into the curious brush of his tongue regardless, opening up for him once more.

Holding his thighs open, Arthur feels them tremble under his palms; he licks his way inside, working his mouth until his jaw aches. With how utterly sensitive he is, Arthur knows for a fact that his beard must be rough on him, rubbing against the most intimate places yet Charles sounds like he's on the edge already, panted breaths coming hard and fast.

“Touch me, please, ah–”

Arthur does, squeezing Charles's heavy cock and it throbs, dripping between his fingers. Charles comes hard, going rigid around the tongue buried deep in his ass before he collapses, sprawling bonelessly in the blankets with a whine of Arthur's name.

Short of breath, Arthur wipes his mouth with the back of his hand before he answers, “'m here”, patting the closest part of Charles he can reach – his calf, as it turns out.

“You okay?”

“No”, Charles groans, then: “Yes. You broke me. I don't think I can walk right now.”

Chuckling, Arthur shuffles closer and under his arm, finally letting himself relax. Yawning, he says, “Ain't gotta be anywhere, remember?”

“Mhm.”

Despite being clearly worn out, Charles pulls him closer.

“Hey, Arthur?”

“Hm...?”

Arthur glances up, surprised by how serious his expression is. Charles cups his jaw, brushing his thumb over his cheekbone.

“You're the most deserving man I know. Never forget that.”

And despite everything it's this that touches Arthur the most, that in those searching eyes looking so deeply into his, Arthur finds only pride. He smiles and kisses the tip of his thumb, a wordless thank you.

It's all he needs to believe it, too.

>>Read on AO3!

[newyorktheater]

Before he started collaborating with Richard Rodgers on some of the most beloved musicals in Broadway history, Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) had helped create some three dozen Broadway productions over a quarter of a century, most often writing both the lyrics and the libretto. Of course, he began with an in:  His uncle Arthur Hammerstein produced the musical, “Furs and Frills,” for which the young Hammerstein, at age 22 in 1917, wrote his first Broadway lyrics — for a song composed by Silvio Hein entitled “Make Yourselves at Home.” Arthur wasn’t his only relative in the business.  His father William Hammerstein was a theater manager; his grandfather, Oscar Hammerstein I, an impresario who helped create the theater district we know today.  But if family connections helped to make Oscar Hammerstein II feel at home on Broadway from the get-go, he soon transformed the place.

“Hammerstein, first with Kern then with Rodgers, revolutionized musical theater,” his protege Stephen Sondheim wrote in the introduction to the reissue of Hammerstein’s collection of his favorite lyrics. He accomplished  this, Sondheim says, “by combining the traditions of musical comedy with operetta while nudging story, character and lyrics towards the kind of naturalism that had overtaken the nonmusical stage since World War I.”

Still, there is some satisfactions in sifting through his individual songs — he reportedly wrote more the lyrics for more than a thousand of them —  and realizing how many vocal artists and musicians of many stripes and many generations have interpreted them — and so so still, 60 years after his death.

The New Moon, 1928

With composer Sigmund Romberg. Hammerstein worked on four Romberg shows.

From this one comes  “Lover, Come Back To Me,” sung by Barbra Streisand, accompanied, conveniently, by a scroll of Hammerstein’s lyrics.

Show Boat, 1927

Music by Jerome Kern, with whom Hammerstein collaborated on some half dozen musicals.

Paul Robeson sings “Ol Man River” in the 1936 movie of the musical. Hammerstein’s original lyrics were problematic in the way he referred to African-Americans. In the movie version, it’s been changed to “darkies,” which to modern ears isn’t much better than the original epithet.

I’ll quote here just the first few verses:

Dere’s an old man called the Mississippi, Dat’s the old man dat I’d like to be, What does he care if the world’s got troubles, What does he care if da land ain’t free?

Old Man River, Dat Old Man River, He mus’ know somepin’, But don’t say nothin’ He just keeps rollin’ He keeps on rollin’ along.

He don’t plant taters, He don’t plant cotton, And dem dat plant ’em, Is soon forgotten, But old man river, He jus’ keeps rollin’ along.

You an’ me, We sweat an’ strain, Body all achin’, An’ wracked with pain, Tote dat barge, Lift dat bale, Get a little drunk, And ya lands in jail.

I gets weary, An’ sick of tryin’, I’m tired of livin’, And scared of dyin’, But old man river, He jus’ keeps rollin’ along.

After 1938, Robeson changed the lyrics to the son in his concerts, not just omitting the denigrating references but cleaning up the dialect and changing the character of the singer from resigned to empowered. Instead of ” Git a little drunk, / An’ you land in jail…”, Robeson sang ” You show a little grit / And you lands in jail..” He changed “I gits weary / An’ sick of tryin’; / I’m tired of livin’ / An scared of dyin’,” to “But I keeps laughin’/ Instead of cryin’ / I must keep fightin’; / Until I’m dyin'”

Billie Holiday sings Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man in 1937, with Teddy Wilson on the piano.

Fish got to swim and birds got to fly I’ve got to love one man till I die Can’t help lovin’ that man of mine

Tell me he’s lazy tell me he’s slow Tell me I’m crazy maybe I know Can’t help lovin’ that man of mine

When he goes away That’s a rainy day And when he comes back that day is fine The sun will shine

He can come home as late as can be Home without him ain’t no home to me Can’t help lovin’t dat man of mine

Sweet Adeline, 1929

Music by Jerome Kern

Helen Morgan sang “Why Was I Born” in the original production Here’s Irene Dunne singing it five years later

Why was I born? Why am I livin’? What do I get? What am I givin’? Why do I want a thing I daren’t hope for? What can I hope for? I wish I knew. Why do I try to draw you near me? Why do I cry? You never hear me I’m a poor fool, but what can I do? Why was I born to love you?

Music in the Air, 1933

Music by Jerome Kern

Ten years later, Frank Sinatra sang “The Song Is You” which has been covered by singers as diverse as Mario Lanza and Mary Wilson

I hear music when I look at you, A beautiful theme of every Dream I ever knew. Down deep in my heart I hear it play. I feel it start, then melt away. I hear music when I touch your hand, A beautiful melody from some enchanted land. Down deep in my heart, I hear it say, Is this the day? I alone have heard this lovely strain, I alone have heard this glad refrain: Must it be forever inside of me, Why can’t I let it go, Why can’t I let you know, Why can’t I let you know the song My heart would sing? That beautiful rhapsody Of love and youth and spring, The music is sweet, The words are true The song is you.

Very Warm for May, 1939

Music by Jerome Kern

Ella Fitzgerald sings “All The Things You Are” (accompanied by lyrics!)

Carmen Jones, 1943

Music by Georges Bizet. Hammerstein basically supplied a new setting and new lyrics to the opera Carmen

Dorothy Dandridge sings ‘Dat’s Love’ (set to the song “Habanera) in

Oklahoma, 1943

Hammerstein’s first collaboration with Richard Rodgers, and the musical still most credited with creating the modern Broadway musical.

Barbara Cook sings Many a New Day

Kristin Chenoweth sings “I Can’t Say No”

Bette Midler sings Oklahoma!

State Fair, 1945 film

This is the only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical written directly for film. It was brought to a Broadway stage in 1996.

Jeanne Crain sings “It Might As Well Be Spring” from the movie.(Actually her singing voice was dubbed by Louanne Hogan.) Song begins at around 2:00

I prefer Rosemary Clooney with Harry James on horn

I’m as restless as a willow in a windstorm I’m as jumpy as a puppet on a string I’d say that I had Spring fever But I know it isn’t Spring

I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented Like a nightingale without a song to sing Oh, why should I have Spring fever When it isn’t even Spring?

I keep wishing I were somewhere else Walking down a strange new street Hearing words that I have never heard From a girl I’ve yet to meet

I’m as busy as a spider spinning daydreams I’m as giddy as a baby on a swing I haven’t seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing But I feel so gay in a melancholy way That it might as well be Spring

It might as well be Spring

Carousel, 1945

Joshua Henry and Jessie Mueller perform ‘If I Loved You’

Allegro, 1947

Part of a London production of the musical in 2016 at Southwark Playhouse, Katie Bernstein sings “The Gentleman is a Dope.”

The gentleman is a dope, a man of many faults A clumsy Joe who wouldn’t know a Rumba from a Waltz The gentleman is a dope and not my cup of tea Why do I get in a dither? He doesn’t belong to me

The gentleman isn’t bright, he doesn’t know the score A cake will come, he’ll take a crumb and never ask for more The gentleman’s eyes are blue but little do they see Why am I beating my brains out? He doesn’t belong to me

He’s somebody else’s problem, she’s welcome to the guy She’ll never understand him half as well as I

The gentleman is a dope, he isn’t very smart He’s just a lug you’d like to hug and hold against you heart The gentleman is a dope doesn’t know how happy he could Look at me crying my eyes out, as if he belonged to me He’ll never belong to me

He’s somebody else’s problem, she’s welcome, welcome to the guy She’ll never understand him half as well, well as I

The gentleman is a dope, he isn’t very smart He’s just a lug you’d like to hug and hold against you heart The gentleman is a dope doesn’t know how happy he could Look at me crying my eyes out, as if he belonged to me He’ll never belong to me

South Pacific, 1949

Mitzi Gaynor (actually) sings “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair”

Bing Crosby sings Younger than Springtime

You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught

In what amounts to a Public Service Announcement on Brotherhood Week, Oscar Hammerstein introduces the song, while Richard Rodgers plays the piano and while William Tabbert, who originated the role of the character Lt. Joseph Cable, sings

Here’s Mandy Patinkin’s interpretation

And Billy Porter

You’ve got to be taught To hate and fear, You’ve got to be taught From year to year, It’s got to be drummed In your dear little ear You’ve got to be carefully taught. You’ve got to be taught to be afraid Of people whose eyes are oddly made, And people whose skin is a diff’rent shade, You’ve got to be carefully taught. You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late, Before you are six or seven or eight, To hate all the people your relatives hate, You’ve got to be carefully taught

Alex Newell sings “Wonderful Guy”

The King and I, 1951

Kelli O’Hara sings “I Whistle A Happy Tune”

Whenever I feel afraid I hold my head erect And whistle a happy tune So no one will suspect I’m afraid. While shivering in my shoes I strike a careless pose And whistle a happy tune And no one ever knows I’m afraid. The result of this deception Is very strange to tell For when I fool the people I fear I fool myself as well! And ev’ry single time The happiness in the tune Convinces me that I’m not afraid. Make believe you’re brave And the trick will take you far. You may be as brave As you make believe you are You may be as brave As you make believe you are LOUIS While shivering in my shoes I strike a careless pose And whistle a happy tune And no one ever knows, I’m afraid.

Jelani Alladin and Matt Doyle sing “We Kiss In A Shadow” in 2019 (a gorgeous version that’s part of the unfortunately named R&H Goes Pop series)

Pipe Dream, 1955

Perry Como sings “All At Once You Start to Love Her”

You start to light her cigarette And all at once you love her You’ve scarcely talked You’ve scarcely met But all at once you love her

You like her eyes, you tell her so She thinks you’re wise and clever You kiss goodnight and then you know You’ll kiss goodnight forever You wonder where your heart can go Then all at once you know (All at once you know)

You like her eyes (‘like her eyes) You tell her so (‘tell her so) She thinks you’re wise and clever (You’re wise an’ clever) You kiss goodnight and then you know You’ll kiss goodnight forever You wonder where your heart can go Then all at once you know

Flower Drum Song, 1958

Miyoshi Umeki sings the first song “A Hundred Million Miracles” in this long segment on the Ed Sullivan Show

This is followed by “You Are Beautiful”, “I Enjoy Being A Girl”, “Love Look Away”, and “Sunday”. sung by members of the cast Pat Suzuki, Ed Kenney, Juanita Hall, Arabella Hong, Larry Blyden, Patrick Adiarte.

The Sound of Music, 1959

My Favorite Things

Julie Andrews sings it in the movie

But it’s been embraced by singers the world over, especially jazz singers.

Sarah Vaughn

Bobby McFerrin

Tony Bennett

Raindrops on roses And whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells And schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver-white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites When the bee stings When I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don’t feel so bad

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites When the bee stings When I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don’t feel so bad

The Sweetest Sight

In 1939, Oscar Hammerstein spotted an old couple on the beach, and was moved to write lyrics set to a melody Jerome Kern had written several years before. Here in 1981, Isaac Stern plays the violin violin and then Mary Martin sings “The Sweetest Sight I Have Seen” Starts at around 3:00

I have seen a line of snow-white birds Drawn across an evening sky. I have seen divine, unspoken words Shining in a lover’s eye. I hae seen moonlight on a mountaintop, Silver and cool and still. I have heard church ells fairly echoing Over a distant hill. Close enough to beauty I have been. And, in all the whole wide land, Here’s the sweetest sight that I have seen — One old couple walking hand in hand.

O is for Oscar Hammerstein II. The Lyricist Who Revolutionized Broadway, even before Richard Rodgers. Before he started collaborating with Richard Rodgers on some of the most beloved musicals in Broadway history, Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) had helped create some three dozen Broadway productions over a quarter of a century, most often writing both the lyrics…