G The bard named William Shakespeare, though we sometimes see him as a seer,

D7In this regard aped Chris his pard, and other ’lizabethan peers; GThey backed the wrong verse-horse, which proved a musical calamiter: DTheir tragic-comic scripts were scribed A7 D in iambic pentameter.

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The Modern Hamlet Monologue 1 G.Hurwitz (2013)

D7 To cite just one example from Gm a spectacle eponymous, F7Protagonizing recitation Bb of his pond’rings ominous, D7Gives Hamlet back-row status, when Gm upstaged by old Polonius Eb7Who’s scatting catchy melodies D7 by Brubeck and Thelonious.

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The Modern Hamlet Monologue 2

G To be or not to be, that is the question; whether mentally D7‘Tis nobler in the mind to suffer arrows incidentally GAnd slings of fate outrageous; or take arms against a sea of woes, DAnd with a drubbing end those troubling A7 D troubling shocks we devoutly oppose.

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The Modern Hamlet Monologue 3

D7 To die or sleep might help us keep Gm those achy-breaky hearts at bay; F7To sleep, perchance to dream; ay there’s Bb the rubbish plain in what I say: D7In sleep of death what dreams when we Gm have shuffled off this mortal noose - Eb7Must give us pause to contemplate D7 the square of the hypotenuse.

The Modern Hamlet Monologue 4

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D7 For who would bear the whips and Gm scorns of temporal adversity, F7Oppressor’s wrong, the pangs of despised Bb love and such perversity ? D7But conscience does make cowards of Gm us all, and we sit idle-ly, Eb7For none dare bare a bodkin, to D7 employ it suicidally.

The Modern Hamlet Monologue 5

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G That undiscover’d country, singing Shakespeare, posed for centuries, D7Has puzzled wills, but why wait ‘til we’re long-in-tooth or dentury ? GI wrote this rhyming flyer, and I soon can boast or post or blog, DMy sing-along soliloquy’s A7 D the Modern Hamlet Monologue.

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The Modern Hamlet Monologue 6

CHORUS

G D7

This tantalizing task he’s flogged;

G D7

he soon will boast or post or blog –

G C

His sing-along soliloquy’s

G D7 G

the Modern Hamlet Monologue.

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The Modern Hamlet Monologue 7

G The Prince’s many solos in this play when spoke sound tedious; D7We now anticipate to hear them crooned – but hold off, greedy us; GI might insert some trios trilled by Gertrude, Ghost and Claudius, DWith scoring, although borrowed, quite A7 D encoring and applaudious.

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The Modern Hamlet Monologue 8

G D7For now, I‘ll boast or post or blog, G D7 this plugged up conduit I’ve unclogged G CMy sing-along soliloquy’s G D7 G the Modern Hamlet Monologue.CHORUS G D7 For now, he’ll boast or post or blog, G D7 this plugged up conduit he’s unclogged G CHis sing-along soliloquy’s G D7 G the Modern Hamlet Monologue.

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The Modern Hamlet Monologue 9

END