Susan “Dr. Sue” Horowitz Sings her funny original song: “Matzo Ball Romance” Teddly Bear Puppet plays Matzo Box Tambourine!
(Positive Humor & Songs)
Susan Horowitz is a Speaker and Author of “Queens of Comedy” (Interviews with Comedy Legends: Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Carol Burnett, Phyllis Diller)!
Susan “Dr. Sue” Horowitz Sings Funny Original Passover Song “Matzo Ball Romance”
Susan “Dr. Sue” Horowitz Sings Funny Original Passover Song “Matzo Ball Romance”
DrSue Passover Comedy! Here’s the link to DrSue performance of “Matzoh Ball Romance” at the legendary @Don’t Tell Mama Cabaret in New York City! (“Matzo” and “matzoh” are alternative spellings.)
Please scroll down for lyrics and Dr. Sue’s Contact information!
Dr. Sue Sings “Matzoh Ball Romance”
Dr. Sue Sings “Matzoh Ball Romance” @ Don’t Tell Mama Cabaret
Dr. Sue Sings “Matzoh Ball Romance”
"Matzo Ball Romance" by Susan "Dr. Sue" Horowitz
I was sittin' at a seder
In a temple of worship
When a cute guy sat right next to me
He said, "I am single, and I am a doctor
I have an Ivy degree."
My Mama said, "Girl, meet a man at a temple
It's better than a barroom or dance.
Don't keep your heart locked or
Miss out on a doctor
A beautiful Matzo Ball Romance."
I was lookin' at my cell phone
When I saw a text message
From my romance so kosher and nice
He said, "I am lonely, visit my office
I'll give you a discounted price."
My Mama said, "Girl, when you go to a temple
Keep your eye out for someone in pants."
Don't know what to call it:
His eye on my wallet
Not a beautiful Matzo Ball Romance."
Yeah, I went back to the temple.
He saw me but he ran away (Like a chicken)
So I looked 'round the room I made a new friend.
There's something that I'd like to say:
"Fellas and girls, when you go to a temple
Don't be afraid, take a chance
Some folks are chicken
But true friends are rib-stickin'
Like a beautiful Matzo Ball Romance.
Music and Lyrics
by Susan "Dr. Sue" Horowitz
copyright 2022
Enjoy “Songwriting Sisters” Dr. Sue’s Solo Show of Songs & Comedy
DrSue Sings Funny Original Thanksgiving song “Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy: Tale of a Turkey-Pilgrim Dinner Date!” (Scroll down for Lyric, Thoughts about Self-Esteem, Diversity, Inclusion, American History, and my Life In-and-Out of the Performing Arts!)
My Song-Video Performance was recorded at Church Street School for Music and Art, 41 White Street New York City. Here’s their website: https://churchstreetschool.org/
Photo is from my performance at Singers Space, presented by D’Ambrose Boyd, BarThalia, Symphony Space New York City https://www.facebook.com/groups/143560185778318
Video DrSue Singer-Songwriter @Church Street School Music Party
Susan Horowitz/DrSue Sings her Original Funny Thanksgiving Song!
“Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy” – Song Lyric by Susan Horowitz/DrSue
Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy Words and Music by Susan Horowitz/DrSue Copyright 2021
This is a tale of a turkey bird
Who went to a turkey trot
When anyone said, "May I have this dance?"
She answered, "You may not.
I'll only dance with a gentleman
Who makes our country great
If he's got money, then he'll be my honey
And I will be his date!"
Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy
Saucy and surprising
Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy
Very appetizing!
Suddenly somebody stepped on in
Who came from Pilgrim stock
He said, "I'll be candid
My boat has landed here on Plymouth Rock.
Turkeys are dumb, but drumsticks are yum
And you look mighty fine
Please do not stall, my Butterball
Come with me to dine!"
Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy
Saucy and surprising
Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy
Very appetizing!
They went to a fabulous restaurant
She was his dinner date
But when they got there the table was bare
Except for an empty plate
The rest of the story is terribly gory
I'll leave out the end
Let me just say have a fine Turkey day
And share it with a friend.
Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy
Saucy and surprising
Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy
Very appetizing!
Contact Susan Horowitz/DrSue Social Media (Website Upper Right)
Songwriting and Meaning, Popular Song History, Self-Esteem Tips
Hope you enjoyed my original song “Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy: Tale of a Turkey/Pilgrim Dinner Date.” (Lyric is slightly revised to my latest version.) As you can see, the song is designed for fun, with a catchy, easy-to-sing melody and a sing-along chorus that includes the audience. The story (told in the verses) has two main characters: the Turkey Bird and the Pilgrim, who interact with dialogue and action, and the other turkeys, who don’t get to dance with the Turkey Bird.
The story also has a Narrator, the Singer (in this case, myself, the Singer Songwriter) who tells the story and articulates the theme in a humorous, ironic chorus. I encourage the audience to sing the chorus with me, and in fact, they do!
Why does my audience sing along? Because I give them an easy, catchy melody, with a repetitive refrain “Life Is Just a Bowl of Gravy” which probably reminds many audience members of the optimistic, popular song “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries.” But cherries have pits, and life has pitfalls – especially for snobbish birds.
“Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy” sounds cheerful, but in fact, it’s a cynical (though perky) comment on the demise of the Turkey Bird! The self-deluding bird rejects her real friends, misunderstands her real situation, and will only dance with a rich “Pilgrim” who (like Donald Trump) promises to “make our country great.” The “Pilgrim” views the Turkey as an appetizing fool suitable for his main course. The story spares the listener the gory details, but ends with a bit of advice – enjoy Thanksgiving (“Turkey day”) and share it with a friend.
The advice – know who you are, don’t try to be who you are not, and value and enjoy your life – applies to many situations. The word “turkey” has become slang for an inept loser, a bird who can’t fly like the eagle. But in fact, the wild turkey (unlike its domesticated cousin, bred for the dinner table) is a native American bird, who can fly and run fast and is traditionally prized by Native Americans, whose own story is part of the real history of Thanksgiving
“Life is Just a Bowl of Gravy” is an original song rooted in a few song genres, including traditional story songs. The ongoing narrative is told in the verses, and the theme shows up in the chorus. The form is verse-chorus, and the repeating chorus makes it easy to learn and sing along.
I also draw inspiration from theatre/revue songs, which often became popular standards. “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” by Ray Henderson/Lew Brown (published in 1931) comes from a Broadway revue (George White’s Scandals, modeled after the Ziegfeld Follies). The easy-to-remember, positive refrain and catchy tune made it a song standard with many recordings. You can learn and enjoy more great song standards by visiting the American Popular Song Society American Popular Song Society (apssinc.org)
Some songwriters and musical theatre writers experiment and challenge traditional song forms. But even the most radical do well to learn their craft and tradition – even if what they want to do is rebel against it.
Singer-Songwriters, Popular Songs, and Musical Theatre
My life in-and-out of the Performing Arts reflects who I am as a Singer-Songwriter, Musical Theatre Creator, Educator, and Person.
Singer-Songwriters create a personal, intimate art form, which directly connects to audiences. The audience often includes other musicians or singers. If the songs are simple or well-known, the audience can sing or play along and build community.
Musical theatre is much more elaborate, with an emphasis on unusual talents, professional collaboration, production values – and substantial funding. The effect can be thrilling!
Autumn Photo by Suzen http://www.suzennyc.com/
I also love the melodic sweep and wit of musical theatre – especially my own show “Switch the Musical” www.switchthemusical.com – and the intimacy and freedom of singing-songwriting, where I can immediately connect with my audience. I consider everything I (and we) create to be aspects of our talents and personal values. And unlike the foolish turkey, we don’t need to seek validation from fake “Pilgrims.” We can do it for ourselves.
Comedians as “Wild Turkeys” Book: “Queens of Comedy”
Great comedians are like wild turkey chicks who have landed among the domesticated breed. They don’t look as plump and juicy as the ones bred for the dinner table. But if they embrace their own talents, they can fly! Here’s a link to some of my favorite “birds” – the legendary comediennes I interviewed for my book “Queens of Comedy”
Contact Susan Horowitz/DrSue Social Media (Website Upper Right)
I hope you enjoy my blog about life in-and-out of the performing arts. You can contact me by clicking the Contact Links and Social Media on this website. (www.DrSue.com)
Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D. Entertaining Motivational Speaker-Author-Educator-Singer/Songwriter.
DrSue New Word Sustainable Chile Wine, Food, Travel, Environment Education, Fun!
DrSue New Word and Sustainable Chile share Wine, Food and the Joy of International Travel at Brooklyn Grange Farm – a rooftop garden in Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York City! www.brooklyngrangefarm.com Scroll down to enjoy 1 Minute Song-Video with Magical Sunset Views of Manhattan! Find Susan Horowitz (DrSue) onInstagram @horowitz30
We wend our way through the wine stations – a journey through the gorgeous geography of Chile www.prochile.gob.cl , a south-western Latin-American country, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains – and through time. Chilean wines (originally from in Spain) have a five-hundred year old tradition – and blend handcraft and modern technology. Wine varieties that became extinct in Europe still grow in Chile (85% certified sustainable) and are exported internationally. www.prochile.gob.cl
Christophe Desplas, Trade Commissioner of Chile, and Dr. Sue say “Salud” (Health) as we toast Sustainable Chile!
Other treats include empanadas (Latin-American stuffed pastries) and desserts from Dulceria, a Harlem-based Bakery-Wine Bar http://www.Dulcerianyc.com and En Boga Magazine www.enbogam.com
We also played a Chilean game of tossing a wine cork into boxes (I got one out of three), and fun photo ops with Chilean style sombreros (hats)! We all felt safe and healthy due to mandated proof of vaccination in New York State. (I have the app for NYS Covid-19 Vaccination proof on my cell phone for easy access.)
Learn more about DrSue New Word Entertaining, Educational Program https://drsue.com/about/drsue-new-word/
Enjoy 1 Minute VideoDrSue New Word Sustainable Chile
Here’s the Lyric to Dr. Sue’s Original Song: “Love is Sweet As Wine”
"Love is Sweet as Wine" Original Song by Susan Horowitz
"...The moonlight shines like chardonnay
And seems to glisten in your eyes
And our reflections in the glass hypnotize...
Oh my love, hear me call
Let yourself fall
Bedazzled and dizzy The feeling's divine
Love is Sweet as Wine, Sweet as Wine"
To hear the entire song (Words and Music)
Contact Dr. Sue on Instagram @horowitz30
or: drsue at drsue dot com
Cremini’s Restaurant a “delizioso” (the Italian word for “delicious”) taste of Italy in Brooklyn, New York.
What is a “cremini”? A sweet dessert that combines perfectly with the salty taste of an “Ascolana” (stuffed) olive.
Cremini’s Restaurant invites you to sample varieties of both (with and without meat).
Ascolana olives and cremini’s come from Le Marche region on the east coast of Italy on the Adriatic Sea.
Le Marche is also famous for “crescia” – Italian flatbread – hand-made into appetizing sandwiches and a fettucini pasta (molded into a mound).
Italian “cucina” (cuisine) is best washed down with wine. So sample some favorites from the vineyards of Le Marche: “Passeria Brut” – a sparkling white wine that is a richer version of Prosecco.
Or try the “Lacrima” red wine. “Lacrima” means “tears” in Italian – which is close to Latin.
(To my surprise, I was able to remember “lacrima” from my high school Latin class – when we read “The Iliad” in Latin.
As my students once reminded me “Nothing you learn is ever a waste!”)
It’s so true – culture, language, and variety of accents enrich our enjoyment of wine and food – and vice versa.
I hope my blog opens the door to appreciate the rich variety of cultures and wines – wherever you live.
Care to try a little Italian? Can you say “Mi piace” (“I like it”)? Or enjoy my original, multi-lingual song “Te Amo/Ti Amo (I Love You)” which begins: “I only meant to share some wine….”
