A WRITING BLOG About Playing Around with a Story Line in Different Literary Genres and Categories
Writing Leap #33
Hi Writers and Readers,
Listen to this!
“I’m Prince Hamlet, got a problem with that?
I’m Prince Hamlet, got a problem with that?
I’m Prince Hamlet, got a problem with that?
I’m Prince Hamlet, over here.”
A Shakespeare rap? Yes! From the unique and wonderful imagination of my contributing writer, playwright, documentary film maker, rhymer since childhood and teacher Bob Zaslow, known to his students as Mr. Z.
Mr. Z has reinterpreted five of Shakespeare’s plays set to the beats of rap music in his book, Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits. Lucky students, who may otherwise be allergic to Elizabethan English, can relate to these Shakespearean tales and see themselves as a conflicted Hamlet or a star-crossed Romeo or Juliet.
RAPPIN’ ROMEO AND JULIET by Bob Zaslow
CHORUS
Two star-crossed lovers, remember that, now
The stars said they’re not gonna make it no how
Two star-crossed lovers, Juliet and Romeo
Break their families’ feud? Not on their life, oh no!
NURSE
Two households, in the one percent and above
In Verona they fought and fought and never loved
They’d been feuding for ages, for what, none remembers
But their grudge smoked two lovers into burning embers.
A plague on both your houses, a pox on all the men
Who’d rather be right and fight and fight
Than shake hands and shout “Never again!”
A plague on both your houses, Capulet and Montague
Two lovers paid the highest price
Because of the two of you.
Who am I? you ask, I’m the comic relief
I’m the nurse, no one’s worse at being relatively brief.
I’ll never say one word when three will do
I’m the nurse, and I curse, so watch out for that too.
CHORUS
Two star-crossed lovers, Juliet and Romeo
Break their families’ feud? Not on their life, oh no!
NURSE
It all started when Romeo said, “Please me mine!”
To a Capulet girl named Rosaline.
But she said, I’m sorry, you’re just not my type
But give me your number maybe we’ll Skype.
Then Romeo sighed and cried and whined
And his friend Mercutio whacked his behind
“Come to the Capulet ball tonight
Maybe you’ll find someone else who’s just right.”
ROMEO
There’s no one for me, but Rosaline.
NURSE
Then he saw Juliet and the guy lost his mind.
CHORUS
Two star-crossed lovers, Juliet and Romeo
Break their families’ feud? Not on their life, oh no!
Don’t miss the rest of Romeo and Juliet and the very funny last line. Click below for the full version.
http://writinglikeadancer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Rap-Notes-lyrics-Romeo-Juliet.doc
wow! I’m hanging out in For Lauderdale stand-up boarding and swiming in the salty waters wanting to find something new to write…THANKS, CYNTHIA. I’M NOW READY TO ROLL 🙂