I was reading a little about the musical, Side Show — the story of Violet and Daisy Hilton, conjoined twins born in Brighton — and, in particular, a song towards the end of the musical. It sounds as though it’s a really tragic story. But I couldn’t help thinking that the song, I will never leave you, could be God singing to us: He will never leave us, and he’s closer to each of us than conjoined twins are to each other.
I will never leave you
The musical Side Show is about Violet and Daisy, conjoined twins from a freak show. In the course of the musical, they are lured away from the circus with promises of fame on vaudeville.
By the end of the show, however, the twins have become disillusioned with a life of fame, and their dreams of love and happiness seem to be lost. Just when Violet is ready to give up, Daisy reminds her of something the two have forgotten in the middle of their adventures.
“I will never leave you,” she sings to her sister. “I will never go away.” Despite the irony in the words — after all, they are conjoined twins! — the song is touching. It is a song of friendship more than just a song of fact. Daisy and Violet share a body, but they also share a love and devotion to each other that would keep them together even if their bodies could be separated.
I found the song on YouTube. This is Alice Ripley as Violet and Emily Skinner as Daisy singing at the 52nd Tony Awards.
Here are some links to Wikipedia articles: Side Show, the Musical — Daisy and Violet Hilton
About Paul Sibley
Andrew Gosden (now 18) has been missing from his Doncaster home since 14 September 2007. The search continues.
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