The Ladies Who Lunch - Song Analysis 

This is simply wonderful. I'm an old queen slowly exposing a young queen to the history of musical theatre. We listened to three versions of this song today . After the third, he liked it, but asked what it meant. I looked up "analysis of ladies who lunch" and found your video. Perfect.

Oh my God this is so brilliant!!! Just brilliant!! I am completely magnetized, thank you so very, very much for this!!!

A very interesting and persuasive take on what may be the lyric with the most potent dose of irony in Broadway's history. It is on its face a 'snarky put-down' but the fear, jealousy, desperation underneath are what needs to resonate in a successful performance.

I've been listening to this song since the 70s and thought I knew all its ins and outs, but I somehow never noticed the double meaning of "a copy of Life." Thanks for showing me something new.

Thank you, Daniel, so much for this analysis. Last week, we saw COMPANY in Madrid and I immediately liked this song, listened to it over and over ever since, but your explanation makes so much more sense to me now. Sondheim is a genius. Now I wonder how all these meanings translate/interpret into a different language. It must be very difficult.

This was captivating omg

This is one of the best pieces of musical criticism I've ever watched!

This is absolutley brilliant. Fantastic and such an insightful analysis - please please analyse more of Sondheims texts!

I disagree with you as well.... I also think she loves, respects, and admires these women she talks about. And I do not think she's alone. She too, is one of the women she is talking about. This is what happens when her kind of women (and maybe men) don't deeply connect with someone. They become plastic shells. And she is saying to Bobby: we are powerful.... But don't be like us.

Thank you. I've been listening to this song since my 20s with my understanding of it growing as l got older. But your analysis of the emotional thru-line of the song finally answered a question l had since discovering Company... and that was why did Joanne hit on Bobby. You just explained her beautifully and tragically. And her sudden "pick me up" after being rejected, "l think l just saved somebody's life", is much clearer and deeper. Thank you.

This was absolutely fascinating!!! I just saw the new revival of Company on Broadway, and seeing Patti Lupone (may she live long and be well) perform Ladies Who Lunch was a whole other level! I so appreciated your deep dive into the subtext of the lyrics! Will leave me with a lot to think about every time I hear this song performed.

One word for you. Subscribed! You're fantastic! I loved every word that fell out of your mouth!

Helpfully, and stylishly comprehensive. Thank you - this and Send in the Clowns are the 2 songs I struggle with.

Plaid on plaid with supporers, Wonderful! Thanks, love.

Incredible! I have loved Company for years, but often felt as though I'm just skimming the surface of the meanings of the songs. This was a huge help for this particular puzzle :)

Wow Daniel, your explanation presented through performance was absolutely fabulous and electrifying. How did you time your words? Was it just ad lib? You timed your words so well, you said certain words perfect to the music. The Ladies Who Lunch has been one of my favorite songs of all time, the music, the lyrics. After many years of listening to this Sondheim song, I wanted an analysis and was blown away by your presentation! Thank you!

simply perfect explanation. Thank u.

Thank you for this wonderful analysis! You've helped me understand many details... By the time I've listened to that marvelous song, I have been trying to figure out if the lyrics reveal either misogynism or a kind of defeated feminism. Of course I release that it's above all that -but still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth! It is kind of an addictive heartbreak! Well...this is life! Thank you once again!

I never really thought about how foreign this must be to younger people, when the 70s kicked in women all wanted a career and an era came to a screeching halt. The clubs and restaurants were really swank to me at least when I was a little kid, we used to dress up to go out, shocking, I know. i would tag along if it was a shopping excursion, like if I needed school clothes, etc. Optical art was a trend at the time, it fits with the Pinter, it was very important to be au courant, my mom took art classes, lol. School was much more than just picking up the kids, it was important to be interested in your child's education, moms would volunteer, PTAs were social events. I read a hysterical op-ed on dressing for school, as the teacher might just be anti-capitalist and find any display of wealth abhorrent. I think of Joanne as socially awkward, she doesn't fit in with polite society, so she mocks it even though she wishes she did fit in.

This is just so great, Daniel!

This is fun. I'm glad I found it.

You're fabulous. 👏 👏 👏

you are amazing

BRILLIANT!

Buenísimo. Gracias

That young man is brilliant.

wonderful analysis

Love!

Wow. Fabulous

Between Elaine Stritch and Patti Lupone who in your opinion sang this song the best?