Blood Brothers

1
?And we went dancing?
?Mines the colour of gravy?
Blood Brothers
Songs
?A most miserable sign of the times?
?Living on the never never?
?The whole things just a game?
?Someone broke the looking glass?
2
The music of Blood Brothers is a crucial part
in the character development of the play. The
different songs help the audience to understand
the characters thoughts and feelings.
The songs help to make the play more memorable,
with catchy melodies and lyrics that are part of
telling the story.
3
There are many songs that tell us a lot about the
plot of the play and give us hints about whatll
happen next. They include
4

• The opening song of Blood Brothers Marilyn
  Monroe is repeated several times throughout
  the play.
• The first time its heard, Mrs J mentions her
  youth, how she once had legs like Marilyn
  Monroe and the problems that she faces now.
• The second time the song is played, Mrs J tells
  the audience that theres hope on the horizon and
  how her life is getting better (sometimes he
  takes me dancing).
• Marilyn Monroe represents tragedy on the third
  and final time it is heard. Mrs J sings about
  Mickey this time, saying youd think he was dead
  just like Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn Monroe
5
My Child and That Guy are played to the same
tune, but have very different lyrics and meanings

• That Guy is sung by Mickey and Eddie.
• It tells about how each boy wants to be like the
  other one Eddie wants to be more cool (Id
  know some real birds) and Mickey wants to be
  able to talk to Linda in a better way (Id know
  all the right words).
• It shows the audience that the two brothers
  even though they dont know that theyre brothers
  yet already want to trade lives and
  personalities.

• My Child is sung by Mrs Johnstone and Mrs
  Lyons.
• They sing about how life could be better for Mrs
  Johnstones child if he was raised by Mrs Lyons
  instead, and Mrs Lyons tries to persuade Mrs J
  that this is the right thing to do (hed have
  all his own toys).
• My Child shows Mrs J from thinking that the
  idea was ridiculous, to deciding to give her
  child away.

That Guy
My Child
6
Basically, songs and music can add lots of
atmosphere to a play and can often tell the
audience more about characters and their feelings
than simple speech could. The music featured in
Blood Brothers does just that and songs like
Shoes Upon The Table stay in your mind a long
time after youve heard them.