1. 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)

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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