The Private and Intimate Life of the House

A day in the life of the Bolkonskys. We meet Andrey's father, the prince Nikolay Bolkonsky. Trapped in the home with her aging father is Andrey's sister, Princess Mary, who has given up the hope of marriage or an independant life. Easily the most nightmare inducing song from this show. Poor Mary. In the original cast recording, she says, "I'm always complaining. He'd beat me and treat me like a dog, make me fetch wood or water and it's just how it is." She doesn't deserve this. What more, she says "Oh father, I love you father" right after lamenting on being beaten, which shows that she can still love him even after what he does to her. Thankfully, ~~Evan Hansen~~ Bolkonsky dies in the book, leaving Mary to enjoy the wonders of freedom. But enough about that. Time to learn the lyrics!

BOLKONSKY
I've aged
I've aged so very much
I fall asleep at the table
My napkin drops to the floor

I'm full of childish vanities
I forget things
And I love in the past
I've aged so very much

People enjoy me though
I come in for tea in my old-fashioned coat and powered wig
And I tell stories
And utter scathing critiques

This old-fashioned house
With its gigantic mirrors and powered footmen
And this stern, shrewd old man
A relic of the past century
With his gentle daughter
Is a majestic and agreeable spectacle

MARY
But besides the couple hours during which we have guests
There are also twenty-two hours in the day
During which the private and intimate life of the house continues

BOLKONSKY
Bring me my slippers

MARY
Yes father yes father

BOLKONSKY
Bring me my wine

MARY
Yes father yes father
Oh father

And I never go anywhere
Never invited
For who would take care of him
Who would take care

MARY & BOLKONSKY
And I have no friends
No no no

BOLKONSKY
Girl, all my friends are dead

MARY
No one

BOLKONSKY
All my friends are dead

MARY
Time is moving
It's now or never
My fate is slipping past me

BOLKONSKY
Silence! Silence!

MARY
Yes father yes father

BOLKONSKY
Shut your damn mouth girl
Shut your damn mouth
I can hurt you

MARY & BOLKONSKY
I can hurt you

MARY
But I never ever ever ever would
This is just how it is
It's just how he is
I'm always to blame

He could beat me
Or treat me like a dog
Make me fetch wood or water
And that's just how it is
Oh father
I love you father

Time is moving
It's now or never
I've abandoned the hope of getting married

BOLKONSKY
Ah! What's this, a young suitor?
Ah, come in come in

But don't sit down
Don't sit down
I'm cold to you
Yes I'm mean to you
Now be gone be gone be gone
And don't come back!

Maybe I'll marry someone myself
Some cheap French thing
Oh that offends you does it?
Ah, come in my dear, come in my dear, come in

MARY
And he draws her to him
And he kisses her hand
Embraces her affectionately
And I flush and run out of the room

BOLKONSKY
Come back here
Let an old man have his fun
Wipe away your tears girl
I don't want your tears

MARY
On that horrible woman
Vile and inhuman
She's using you, Papa
Wants your money Papa
To take advantage of your weakness like that
It's disgusting
My voice breaks

BOLKONSKY
It's my money
And I'll throw it where I want
Not at you!
And not at Andrey's harlot!
It's my money, my money,
Mine all mine!

Insolent girl!
Insolent girl!
Where-
Where-

Where are my glasses?
Where are, where are they?
Where are my glasses?
Where are-
Where-

Oh God-
Oh God I'm frightened
Oh God I've-
I've aged, I've aged so very much
Oh God I'm frightened
Where-
Where are my glasses?
Where are my, where are my-
Where are my glasses?

MARY
There are there upon his head
They are there upon his head
The pride of sacrifice
Gathers in my soul
They are there upon his head

And he forgets things
He lives in the past
He falls asleep at the table
His napkin drops to the floor
His shaking head
Sinks over his plate

He is old and feeble
And I dare to judge him
I disgust myself
I disgust myself