"What I Did For Love" - A Chorus Line

I cannot tell you how many times I have played this song, read the lyrics, and thought I understood what the song was about. And then I did the research on the plot of A Chorus Line. I knew how it was conceived: back in 1974 there was a taped session and two workshops for dancers held in NYC. None of the dancers, or gypsies as they were called, really knew what the project was about, they only knew it could lead to a job in a chorus of one of the musicals. In reality, 8 of those dancers would be picked for the production A Chorus Line and the plot revolves around the story of dancers and their journey to Broadway. It is very raw and very real; the stage has no set except a dance mirror and a harshly painted white line, from proscenium arch to proscenium arch, where the dancers stand in their perfect lines with their head shots in hand. The disembodied voice of the director is heard over head. As you watch the show you learn all different stories, some very progressive to put on stage in 1975. Perhaps that is why the show ran on Broadway from 1975 all the way to April of 1990 for a total of 6,137 shows.

Before I break into my thoughts on "What I Did for Love", for those of you Gilmore Girls fans out there, Emily Gilmore was played by Kelly Bishop. In 1975 she was still Carole Bishop, changing her name while on Broadway, and she originated the role of Sheila. I'll put a clip of her below.

So "What I Did For Love" is a love ballad about saying goodbye to a loved one, right? Because the dancers are all so focused on their craft they had to let all close relationships go? Or maybe its about a failed relationship, one that has really stuck with you, one that really hurt to give up? Well, close. As the show is headed full steam toward the finale, the final 8 dancers, Paul falls and breaks his leg in a tap routine and is rushed off to the hospital. He is out of the running. The director, still poking and prodding at his cast asks the dreaded question, "What would you do if you couldn't dance anymore?" And after some thought someone finally answers....

"Kiss today goodbye,
The sweetness and the sorrow,
Wish me luck, the same to you...
But I won't regret what I did for love,
What I did for love..."

The whole song is not actually about love for a person, but love for their craft. It shows their discipline, motivation, and living daily without regret.


Not a live video, but it is the revival recording with some good shots...



Kelly Bishop, about 8 years into the role....