“The Sound of Love” is sung during Act 2. Ben is trying to sell gramophones, because he told Bella that he quite working at the cigar factory and was selling them (For My Mary). David comes over, and tries to sell them with Ben.
In the revised script in 1993, Bella and Rebecca sing in this song....
[DAVID, spoken]
How does the music get onto the gramophone, Ben?
[BEN]
You just sing into this horn.
[DAVID]
Sing? What should I sing?
[BEN]
Sing anything!
[DAVID, sung]
I am singing here
In this gramophone
Like an idiot
Is how I feel
[BEN, spoken]
There! Now you can play it back on this machine!
[DAVID]
That's all there is to it?
[BEN]
Yeah that's all!
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
Don't dawdle Morris, Grandma Tilly is waiting!
[DAVID, RECORDING]
I am singing here
In this gramophone
Like an idiot
Is how I feel
[MORRIS, spoken]
Mama! That little boy, he was singing into that machine!
[BEN]
He's making a record
[DAVID]
For my mother!
[MORRIS' MOTHER & BEN]
For your mother?
[DAVID]
Yes, uh, she's uh, she's
[BEN]
Very sick
(sung)
She feels terrible
[DAVID]
Terrible!
[BEN]
Lying all alone
[DAVID]
So alone!
[BEN]
Crying cause her boy is gone!
[DAVID, spoken]
I have to work
[BEN]
But on her gramophone
[BEN & DAVID]
Yes she owns a gramophone!
[BEN]
She hears his voice
[DAVID]
She loves my voice!
[BEN]
And in his voice she finds the...what?
[DAVID]
The will, the courage
[BEN]
Yes! The courage to go on
[BEN & DAVID]
and on and on and...
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
That sounds wonderful!
[BEN]
Doesn't it?
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
Truly wonderful!
[BEN]
Wasn't it?
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
How much did you say that it was?
[BEN]
25 dollars!
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
So much?
[BEN]
Yes, but think Missus of your Morris
Soon he'll be gone and grown
Gone off to work, or worse, a girl of his own!
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
Oh!
[BEN]
Think how the years are flying
{MORRIS' MOTHER]
Flying!
[BEN]
Fast like the birds above
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
Faster than the birds above
[BEN]
Don't just stand there sighing
[DAVID]
Now you'll have joy undying
[BEN]
Think, Missus, what you're buying
[DAVID]
Think, Missus, of that
[BEN & DAVID]
One special sound
Here comes that sound
Hark to the sound!
[BEN]
Of love!
[MORRIS, RECORDING]
I am singing here
In this gramophone
Mama, I dedicate
This song to you!
[MORRIS' MOTHER, spoken]
To me? I'll take it!
[BEN, sung]
Come...
See my magic music machine
Step right on over to your old buddy, Ben
I'm here to show how
American know-how
Means that you're never lonely again!
Gather round, you'll see what I mean
There's room for everyone, you don't have to shove!
And to proceed, folks
All that we need, folks
One volunteer
Ooh, here's one right here
To bring you "The Sound of Love"
(instrumental)
Here's my magic music machine
It ain't no blarney when I tell ya it's great!
[DAVID]
Tis an old country tune
That I croon 'neath the moon
For my mama!
[WOMAN]
Anymore there?
[SHOPPERS]
For her mama!
[IRISH TENOR]
O, cara Mama!
How I love you Mama!
You hear me singing
I love you Mama!
[SHOPPERS]
Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama - what a machine!
[BEN]
What a machine!
[SHOPPERS]
The newest wonder of a wonderful age!
[MORRIS' MOTHER]
Hey Mr. Edison!
Thanks for the medicine!
[BEN]
Grazie, Signora
Faith and Begorrah!
Stop with the hora!
Send your friends for a sample of...
The sound of love!
The Sound of Love was written by Charles Strouse & Stephen Schwartz.
Stephen Schwartz released The Sound of Love on Tue Jun 18 1991.