G The bard named William Shakespeare, though we sometimes see him as a seer, D7 In this regard aped Chris his pard, and other ’lizabethan peers; G They backed the wrong verse-horse, which proved a musical calamiter: D Their tragic-comic scripts were scribed A7 D in iambic pentameter. G0232 D72020 A70200 The Modern Hamlet Monologue 1 G.Hurwitz (2013)

D7 To cite just one example from Gm a spectacle eponymous, F7 Protagonizing recitation Bb of his pond’rings ominous, D7 Gives Hamlet back-row status, when Gm upstaged by old Polonius Eb7 Who’s scatting catchy melodies D7 by Brubeck and Thelonious. D72020 Gm0231 F72310 Bb3321 Eb73334 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 G And slings of fate outrageous; or take arms against a sea of woes, D And with a drubbing end those troubling A7 D troubling shocks we devoutly oppose. G0232 D72020 A70200 The Modern Hamlet Monologue 3

D7 To die or sleep might help us keep Gm those achy-breaky hearts at bay; F7 To sleep, perchance to dream; ay there’s Bb the rubbish plain in what I say: D7 In sleep of death what dreams when we Gm have shuffled off this mortal noose - Eb7 Must give us pause to contemplate D7 the square of the hypotenuse. The Modern Hamlet Monologue 4 D72020 Gm0231 F72310 Bb3321 Eb73334

D7 For who would bear the whips and Gm scorns of temporal adversity, F7 Oppressor’s wrong, the pangs of despised Bb love and such perversity ? D7 But conscience does make cowards of Gm us all, and we sit idle-ly, Eb7 For none dare bare a bodkin, to D7 employ it suicidally. The Modern Hamlet Monologue 5 D72020 Gm0231 F72310 Bb3321 Eb73334

G That undiscover’d country, singing Shakespeare, posed for centuries, D7 Has puzzled wills, but why wait ‘til we’re long-in-tooth or dentury ? G I wrote this rhyming flyer, and I soon can boast or post or blog, D My sing-along soliloquy’s A7 D the Modern Hamlet Monologue. G0232 D72020 A70200 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. G0232 D72020 A70200 The Modern Hamlet Monologue 7

G The Prince’s many solos in this play when spoke sound tedious; D7 We now anticipate to hear them crooned – but hold off, greedy us; G I might insert some trios trilled by Gertrude, Ghost and Claudius, D With scoring, although borrowed, quite A7 D encoring and applaudious. G0232 D72020 A70200 The Modern Hamlet Monologue 8

G D7 For now, I‘ll boast or post or blog, G D7 this plugged up conduit I’ve unclogged G C My 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 C His sing-along soliloquy’s G D7 G the Modern Hamlet Monologue. G0232 D72020 A70200 The Modern Hamlet Monologue 9 END