Patter Song/Quotes

You will find that as a rule in ev'ry Broadway presentation

(Or perhaps the London West End, if that should be the location),

That at some point in the drama, all the action turns to stasis--

(Because, after all, how many shows make plotting their main basis?

And a Motor Mouth or three will more or less expressly chatter

In a light and rapid melody -- more technic'ly, a patter.

Since a Long List is a structure that no writer can resist long,

You will ofttimes find the Patter overlapping with the List Song.

Though it uses terms so recherchés, the singers' tongues are twisted,

Each author still will use the trope, as here on this page, this did--

But because to try explaining what the trope entails quite tramples

On our Tropers' little patience, let us on to the examples:

—The original page description