The 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival begins tonight at 6:30 pm with a screening of Bob Fosse‘s Cabaret (’72), which I haven’t seen in eons. Cabaret broke the musical mold by not having its characters suddenly break into song and dance. Instead all but one of the tunes were performed onstage at Berlin’s Kit Kat Club. The exception, of course, was the famous beer garden scene when the blonde Hitler youth sings “Tomorrow Belongs To Me” — easily one of the most chilling tunes ever heard in an American musical.

The sun on the meadow is summery warm
The stag in the forest runs free
But gathered together to greet the storm
Tomorrow belongs to me

The branch on the linden is leafy and green
The Rhine gives its gold to the sea (Gold to the sea)
But somewhere a glory awaits unseen
Tomorrow belongs to me

The babe in his cradle is closing his eyes
The blossom embraces the bee
But soon says the whisper, arise, arise
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me

Now Fatherland, Fatherland, show us the sign
Your children have waited to see
The morning will come
When the world is mine
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me