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Metaphor Lyrics by Kenneth Nelson, Rita Gardner

The Fantasticks (Original Cast Album)

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[MATT, spoken]
I don't what to call her. She's too vibrant for a name. What shall I call her?

(sung)
Juliet?

[LUISA]
Yes, dear!

[MATT]
Helena?

[LUISA]
Yes, dear!

[MATT]
And Cassandra, and Cleopatra, and Beatrice. And also—
(sung)
Guinevere?

[LUISA, spoken]
What, dear?

[MATT, spoken]
I think she's there. Can you hear me?

[LUISA, spoken]
Barely. 

[MATT, spoken]
I've been speaking of you. 

[LUISA, spoken]
To whom?

[MATT, spoken]
To them. I told them that if someone were to ask me to describe you, I would be utterly and totally speechless. Except to say, perhaps, that you are Polaris or the inside of a leaf. 

[LUISA, spoken]
Speak a little louder. 

[MATT]
I love you!

[LUISA, spoken, swooning]
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!

[MATT]
If I were in the desert deep in sand
And the sun was burning like a hot pomegranate:
Walking through a nightmare in the heat of a summer day
Until my mind was parch-ed!
Then you are water...
Cool, clear water...
A refreshing glass of water!

[LUISA, spoken]
What dear?

[MATT]
Water!

[LUISA, spoken, swooning]
Ah, ah, ah, ah!

[MATT]
Love! You are love!
Better far than a metaphor
Can ever, ever be
Love! You are love!
My mystery—of love!

If the world was like an iceberg
And everything was frozen
And tears turned into icicles in the eye
And snow came pouring—
And sleet and ice—
Came stabbing like a knife
Then you are heat
A fire alive with heat!
A flame that thaws the iceberg with its heat!

[LUISA, spoken]
Repeat?

[MATT]
You are heat!

[LUISA, spoken, swooning]
Ah, ah, ah, ah!

[MATT & LUISA]
Love (I am love)
You are love (I am love)

[MATT & LUISA]
Better far than a metaphor
Can ever, ever be

[MATT & LUISA]
Love (I am love)
You are love (I am love)
My mystery (His mystery)

[MATT & LUISA]
Of love!

[MATT]
You are Polaris
The one trustworthy star

[MATT & LUISA]
You are! (I am!)
You are! (I am!)

[MATT]
You are September
A special mystery

[MATT & LUISA]
To me! (To he!)
To me! (To he!)

[MATT]
You are sunlight! Moonlight!
Mountains! Valleys!
The microscopic inside of a leaf!

[MATT & LUISA]
My joy! (Yes, I am his joy!)
My grief! (Yes, I am his grief!)
My star! (Yes, I am his star!)
My leaf! (Yes, I am his leaf!)

[MATT & LUISA, LUISA]
Oh, love! (I am love!)

[MATT & LUISA]
You are love! (I am love!)

[MATT & LUISA]
Better far than any metaphor
Can ever, ever be

[MATT & LUISA]
Love (I am love)
You are love (I am love)
My mystery (His mystery)

[MATT & LUISA]
Of love
Love
Love!

About “Metaphor” by Kenneth Nelson

Read the complete lyrics to "Metaphor" by Kenneth Nelson, Rita Gardner from the album "The Fantasticks (Original Cast Album)". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Off-Broadway, Musicals, Pop.

"Metaphor" is performed by Kenneth Nelson, Rita Gardner. from the album "The Fantasticks (Original Cast Album)" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Metaphor", explore more songs by Kenneth Nelson, Rita Gardner using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Kenneth Nelson · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Metaphor" is credited to Kenneth Nelson, Rita Gardner. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Metaphor" appears on "The Fantasticks (Original Cast Album)".

Visit the Kenneth Nelson, Rita Gardner artist page at /artist/kenneth-nelson for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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