Second-Hand Suit Lyrics - Great Gatsby, The

Cover for Great Gatsby, The album
Great Gatsby, The Lyrics
  1. Act I
  2. Roaring On
  3. Absolute Rose
  4. New Money
  5. For Her
  6. Valley of Ashes
  7. Second-Hand Suit
  8. For Better or Worse
  9. The Met
  10. Only Tea
  11. My Green Light
  12. Act II
  13. Shady
  14. Better Hold Tight
  15. Past Is Catching Up to Me
  16. La Dee Dah With You
  17. Go
  18. Made to Last
  19. For Better or Worse (Reprise)
  20. One-Way Road
  21. God Sees Everything
  22. For Her (Reprise)
  23. New Money (Reprise)
  24. Beautiful Little Fool
  25. Finale: Roaring On

Second-Hand Suit Lyrics

Myrtle, Tom, and Company

Second-Hand Suit

[MYRTLE]
When my husband George proposed to me
I couldn't help but panic
Never in my wildest fantasy
Did I marry a mechanic
But Georgie said, "We'll strike it rich, you'll see
For I am what you call an up-and-comer"
And so I gave the boy a chance, prayed he would advance
At least he's not a plumber
When I saw him walking down the aisle
He actually looked cute
I couldn't help but crack a smile
He had bought himself a suit
I let him put a ring on me, and gee
He looked so handsome in his bib and tucker
I promised him fidelity for ?ternity
And boy was I a sucker
It was a second-hand suit, ha
H? had to borrow a suit for our wedding day
His dreams were all a mirage
And now I live above a garage

I met Mr. Buchanan on a train
He looked just like a lion

[TOM]
Roar
[MYRTLE]
Sittin' at the top of the food chain
I tell you, sparks were flyin'
From the minute that we met

[TOM & MYRTLE]
Kismet
We both knew that it was now or never

[MYRTLE]
On the way to the hotel, all I thought was
"Hell, you can't live forever"
It's bad enough that I was born
To live among the lowest on the ladder
I married up and never left the bottom rung
But now it doesn't matter
You make a vow to stick through thick and thin
And then you learn the vow's a bunch of twaddle
If you hate the wreck you're in, screw the thick and thin
And look for a new motto

[ENSEMBLE]
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!

[MYRTLE]
Ooh!
[ENSEMBLE]
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

[MYRTLE]
I'm done with second-hand suits

[ENSEMBLE]
Oh-oh-oh
Ah!

[MYRTLE]
I'm done with second-hand suits on a wedding day

[ENSEMBLE]
She won't settle

[MYRTLE]
No more settling for less
I'll live a life of dressing

[MYRTLE & ENSEMBLE]
To impress

[MYRTLE]
Oh, time for life at The Ritz
Tell George I'm calling it quits
I've finally found, woo
Something that fits
[ENSEMBLE]
Doo, doo-doo
Doo-doo
Doo-doo, doo-do-do
Doo, doo-do-do
Doo-doo

[MYRTLE]
Oh, something that fits


Lyrics Meaning and impact of "Second-Hand Suit" by Sara Chase featuring John Zdrojeski.

Second-Hand Suit Lyrics video by Sara Chase
Sara Chase singing the 'Second-Hand Suit' lyrics in the music video.

Song info:

  • Featuring Artist(s): Sara Chase, John Zdrojeski
  • Producer(s): Jason Howland, Nathan Tysen, Billy Jay Stein, Chunsoo Chin, Kait Kerrigan, Mark Shacket
  • Composer: Jason Howland
  • Writer: Jason Howland, Nathan Tysen
  • Release Date: June 28, 2024
  • Musical Genre: Broadway, Comedy-Drama, Jazz-Influenced
  • Album: The Great Gatsby - A New Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
  • Track #: 6
  • Language(s): English
  • Mood: Sassy, Frustrated, Satirical
  • Tags: Myrtle Wilson, Class Divide, Marriage, Infidelity, Social Climbing

Song meaning.

Sara Chase performing song Second-Hand Suit
Performance of 'Second-Hand Suit' by Sara Chase in the music video.
“Second-Hand Suit” is a musical monologue wrapped in a cabaret bowtie — a cheeky yet sharp dissection of class, desire, and disillusionment. Myrtle Wilson, the tragic mistress of Tom Buchanan, delivers this vivacious, biting solo that blends vaudevillian humor with genuine heartache. It’s sass. It’s satire. It’s survival through sequins.

Character Voice and Musical Style:

Sara Chase’s performance as Myrtle is equal parts Broadway belt and burlesque flair. The melody struts with brass and big band flair, echoing the razzle-dazzle of a woman who wants to rewrite her story — even if the ink is cheap and smudged.

Key Lines and Double Meanings:

“It was a second-hand suit, ha / He had to borrow a suit for our wedding day”: Myrtle’s realization that her husband’s dreams don’t match his wardrobe becomes a metaphor for a life she feels ill-fitted for — stitched together with thrift and false hope. “I met Mr. Buchanan on a train / He looked just like a lion”: Gatsby isn’t the only one chasing symbols. Tom represents power, privilege, and escape — the predator Myrtle is willing to be devoured by if it means leaving the garage behind. “Time for life at The Ritz / Tell George I’m calling it quits”: Myrtle wants more — wealth, glamour, attention — and is done waiting for dreams in overalls to become reality. It's her declaration of independence, served with pearls and a wink.

Core Theme:

Beneath the laughs, “Second-Hand Suit” exposes how limited options can breed desperation. Myrtle is both a gold-digger and a product of a system where women must hitch their futures to men. She’s clawing out of poverty with lipstick and illusion.

Which songs share same hunger for reinvention and escape?

Thumbnail from Second-Hand Suit lyric video by Sara Chase
A screenshot from the 'Second-Hand Suit' music video, capturing the mood and meaning of the song.
  1. "Roxie" from Chicago: A cheeky, fame-hungry anthem by another woman yearning to leave behind obscurity for glitter. Like Myrtle, Roxie dreams of headlines and dresses that actually fit her fantasies.
  2. "Popular" from Wicked: Glinda’s bubbly lecture on social ascent mirrors Myrtle’s obsession with appearances. Both tracks use humor to critique how much women are expected to perform perfection for power.
  3. "Master of the House" from Les Misérables: Though male-driven, this number shares Myrtle's class bitterness and comedic spin on survival. Both highlight the grimy hustle beneath the aristocratic gloss.

Questions and Answers.

What does the “second-hand suit” symbolize?
It’s not just about clothing — it’s about second choices, missed chances, and feeling like you’re always borrowing your life from someone else. It becomes Myrtle’s shorthand for mediocrity and regret.
Why does Myrtle pursue Tom Buchanan?
He represents escape, luxury, and agency. She doesn’t just want love — she wants status. Tom is her ticket out of the Valley of Ashes, even if it’s a ride straight into ruin.
Is Myrtle portrayed as shallow or sympathetic?
Both. The song uses humor to humanize her ambition while also exposing her vulnerabilities. She’s not just greedy — she’s stuck. And “Second-Hand Suit” is her battle cry to climb, sparkle, and never look back.
Scene from Second-Hand Suit track by Sara Chase
Visual effects scene from 'Second-Hand Suit' enhancing the experience of the song words and music.

Which awards and chart positions did composition Achieve?

While “Second-Hand Suit” hasn't charted independently, it has earned standout mentions in early reviews as one of the show’s most electric and entertaining solos. Critics have hailed it for injecting levity into a story drenched in despair.

Fan and Media Reactions.

Fans adore Myrtle’s unapologetic energy and the song’s swing-style punch. It's become a sleeper favorite, especially among those who like their heartbreak with sequins and sass.
This is the anthem of every woman who thought ‘I can do better’ — and meant it.
@RitzNotGarage
Myrtle is messy, flawed, and fabulous. And this song? A high-heeled mic drop.
@BroadwayGrit
“Tell George I’m calling it quits” needs to be a ringtone. Or a tattoo.
@SecondHandNoMore
This show gave Myrtle the spotlight she deserved — and she ran with it in rhinestones.
@RoarForTom
It’s the 1920s version of “thank u, next,” but with more martinis and murder.
@AshesToGatsby

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