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I'm no grammar expert, but I would judge it to be the 4th and 5th syllable of the first word.

.. isn't "ry" the 3rd syllable?

Actually, on checking the work in question, there's an apostrophe in place of the 2nd E so I stand corrected, "ry" is the 2nd syllable, making the theme word the 3rd and 4th.

Enough already Bren:)

Sorry, Jack - and anyone else I led astray! I didn't mean to put 'syllable', I'd originally intended just 'second half'. The song seemed so obvious in many ways, I thought one quick glance - at the 'work' - wouldreveal it right away.

Sorry Malone, I went way overboard on this, I think my inner pedant just went into overdrive, regardless, you'll be glad to know my usual inner chill is now fully back in control 😎

Thanks, Brendan. I quite liked the discourse on the syllables - the puzzle itself had been so straightforward for me, it was good to see something being chewed over!

In the name of the wee man! How did I not see that?! Not so much a PDM as a clout on the snout from a discarded rake. And, of course, it was that song and it was not so much a hint as a clear instruction. I am a benighted idiot and probably should go into care…. (Sounds of repeated kicking are heard as he exits stage left.)

And having looked at Kcit’s blog (in the name of Phi, one of his other psudonyms) I see that the transfigurations are very much his metier. I had him down as solely a music buff - the Puccini clue and the famous singer testified to that in this puzzle - but he also has a very large collection of the thematic material.

Thanks, Jack - glad you are now an enlightened soul! I was convinced you were either missing the very, very obvious or had managed to run across a different theme or track altogether!

PS If my syllable stuff held you up... well, it serves you right really! (Sorry).

Absolutely right, Malone. I deserve it all and more! It was pursuing an extremely pedantic interpretation of “synonym” that was my undoing, I think. But that’s no excuse for utter stupidity!