"Maria" Lyrics

Berthe:
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee
♫Her dress has got a tear♫

Sophia:
♫She waltzes on her way to Mass♫
♫And whistles on the stair♫

Berthe:
♫And underneath her wimple♫
♫She has curlers in her hair♫

Catherine:
♫I even heard her singing in the abbey♫

Agatha:
♫She's always late for chapel♫

Sophia:
♫But her penitence is real♫

Berthe:
♫She's always late for everything♫

Catherine:
♫Except for every meal♫

Berthe:
♫I hate to have to say it♫
♫But I very firmly feel♫

Catherine, Sophia, and Agatha join with Berthe:
♫Maria's not an asset to the abbey♫

Margaretta:
♫I'd like to say a word in her behalf♫

Reverend Mother:
Then say it, Sister Margaretta.

Margaretta:
♫Maria makes me laugh♫ (Catherine, Sophia, and Agatha giggle as well)

Reverend Mother:
♫How do you solve a problem like Maria?♫
♫How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?♫

Margaretta:
♫How do you find the word that means Maria?♫

Catherine and Agatha:
♫A flibbertijibbet♫

Sophia:
♫A will-o'-the wisp♫

Berthe: (Spoken)
A clown.

Reverend Mother:
♫Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her♫
♫Many a thing she ought to understand♫

Berthe:
♫But how do you make her stay and listen to all you say?♫

Reverend Mother:
♫How do you keep a wave upon the sand?♫

Margaretta:
♫Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?♫

Reverend Mother:
♫How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?♫

Sophia:
♫When I'm with her I'm confused♫,
♫Out of focus and bemused♫
♫And I never know exactly where I am♫

Agatha:
♫Unpredictable as weather♫

Catherine:
♫She's as flighty as a feather♫

Margaretta:
♫She's a darling♫

Berthe:
♫She's a demon♫

Margaretta:
♫She's a lamb♫

Sophia:
♫She'd out pester any pest♫
♫Drive a hornet from its nest♫

Agatha:
♫She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl♫

Margaretta:
♫She is gentle she is wild♫

Catherine:
♫She's a riddle she's a child!♫

Berthe:
♫She's a headache♫

Margaretta:
♫She's an angel♫

Reverend Mother:
♫She's a girl♫

All 6:
♫How do you solve a problem like Maria?♫
♫How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?♫
♫How do you find the word that means Maria?♫

Catherine and Agatha:
♫A flibbertijibbet♫

Sophia and Margaretta:
♫A will-o'-the wisp♫

Berthe: (Spoken)
A clown.

All 6:
♫Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her♫
♫Many a thing she ought to understand♫

Reverend Mother:
♫But how do you make her stay?♫

Berthe:
♫And listen to all you say?♫

Margaretta:
♫How do you keep a wave upon the sand?♫

All 6:
♫Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?♫
♫How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?♫