Elaine Stritch has been around for a long time...and she's still here. Pretty impressive to be performing at the White House at age 84! It's easy to imagine that she is the character Stephen Sondheim had in mind when he wrote this song for Follies.
The 1971 musical Follies is a ghostly reunion of song and dance performers at a theatre that is about to shut down. Various aging showgirls reminisce about the old days while their youthful counterparts appear on stage. Carlotta is a tough, old broad who belts out the song "I'm Still Here," reminding everyone of her past and her presence.
The original Carlotta on stage was Yvonne De Carlo, whom some will remember as Lily Munster on The Munsters TV show.
June Abernathy has provided help in interpreting some of the lyrics for those of us who haven't lived through it all...
Good times and bum times,
I’ve seen them all and, my dear,
I’m still here.
Plush velvet sometimes,
Sometimes just pretzels and beer,
But I’m here.
I’ve stuffed the Dailies in my shoes,
Dailies – Daily newspapers, to replace the soles in worn out shoes.
Strummed Ukuleles,
"Ukuleles" - A Hawaiian instument which became a popular fad on the mainland in the 1920’s.
Sung the Blues,
Seen all my dreams disappear,
But I’m here.
I’ve slept in shanties,
Guest of the W.P.A.,
"W.P.A." - Work Projects Administration (1935–43). U.S. government agency during the New Deal. The WPA undertook extensive building and improvement projects to provide work for the unemployed.
But I’m here.
...
I’ve been through Gandhi,
"Gandhi" - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (a.k.a. Mahatma) (1869-1948) Indian nationalist and spiritual Leader who developed the practice of nonviolent disobedience that forced Great Britain to grant independence to India in 1947. His philosophy was embraced by civil rights activists in the U.S. during the 1960’s.
Windsor and Wally’s affair,
"Windsor and Wally’s affair" – a reference to an affair between King Edward VII, reigning King of England in 1936, and Wallis Warfield Simpson, an American divorcee. He abdicated the throne in order to marry her in 1937, and was granted the title of Duke of Windsor.
And I’m here.
Amos ‘n Andy,
"Amos ‘n Andy" - A popular show about the comic lives of two hapless black men which began on the radio in 1929 (with white actors), was made into a TV show in 1949 (with black actors), and finally pulled off the air in 1965 due to protests about the show’s stereotypical depiction of blacks.
Mahjongg and Platinum hair,
"Mahjongg" - A chinese tile game which became very popular in the suburban US in the 1920’s.
And I’m here.
I got through "Abie’s Irish Rose
"Abie’s Irish Rose" - A play which opened in 1922 and ran for a then unheard of 2,532 performances.
Five Dionne Babies,
"Five Dionne Babies" - The Dionne Quintuplets, a multiple birth that made headlines in 1934.
Major Bowes,
"Major Bowes" - Produced and hosted a popular Amateur Hour on radio.
Had Heebie-Jeebies
For Beebe’s Bathysphere
"Beebe’s Bathysphere" - William Beebe invented the Bathysphere, a reinforced steel deep Water diving chamber which he took down to record depths in 1934.
I got through Brenda Frazier,
"Brenda Frazier" - Popular debutante and spoiled rich girl who regularly made the papers for a variety of romps which illustrated how well some segments of society were living while others starved.
(Alternative lyric:)
I've lived through Shirley Temple,
"Shirley Temple" - Child actress who attained monumental fame and adoration during the depression. (This line was changed as of the 1987 London revival of Follies, as a better known reference- particularly to non-Americans).
And I'm here.
I’ve gotten through Herbert and J. Edgar Hoover,
"Herbert (Hoover)" - President of the US from 1928 to 1934. Blamed by many For the Depression. (No relation to J. Edgar Hoover).
"J. Edgar Hoover" - Head of the FBI from 1921 until his death in 1972. Known for fighting gangsters during Prohibition, although the reference here is probably more for his anti-Communist campaign after WWII, which led to unfortunate blacklisting, the "red scare", and, to a certain extent, the US involvement in the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. Since his death, evidence of cross dressing and possible homosexuality have made the reference all the more ironic.
...
I’ve been through Reno,
"Reno" - Reno, Nevada. Known as a place to obtain a quick and easy divorce.
I’ve been through Beverly Hills,
And I’m here.
Reefers and Vino,.
"Reefers" – Marijuana cigarettes
"Vino" - Wine
Rest cures, religion and pills,
But I’m here.
Been called a pinko
Commie tool,
"Pinko Commie tool" - Reference to the "red scare" of the early 1950's. Senator Joseph McCarthy formed a "House Un-American Activities Committee", and accused various Government officials, entertainers, and detractors of being Communists out to destroy the US. He was discredited and censured by congress in 1954 after destroying a number of lives and careers.
...
Black sable one day,
Next day it goes into hock,
"hock" - Sold to a pawnbroker for cash
But I’m here.
Top billing Monday,
"Top billing" - The first name listed in the credits of a show. The Star.
Tuesday you’re touring in stock,
"stock" - Summer Stock, or more generally, theatre outside of NYC.
But I’m here.
...
I’ve run the gamut,
A to Z.
Three cheers and dammit,
C’est La Vie.
"C’est La Vie" - French for "that’s life". Indicative of a carefree lifestyle.
I got through all of last year,
And I’m here.
Lord knows, at least I’ve been there,
And I’m here!
Look who’s here!
I’m still here!
