 Hammerstein and Rodgers returned to the Liliom project in mid @-@ 1944 . Hammerstein was uneasy as he worked , fearing that no matter what they did , Molnár would disapprove of the results . Green Grow the Lilacs had been a little @-@ known work ; Liliom was a theatrical standard . Molnár 's text also contained considerable commentary on the Hungarian politics of 1909 and the rigidity of that society . A dismissed carnival barker who hits his wife , attempts a robbery and commits suicide seemed an unlikely central character for a musical comedy . Hammerstein decided to use the words and story to make the audience sympathize with the lovers . He also built up the secondary couple , who are incidental to the plot in Liliom ; they became Enoch Snow and Carrie Pipperidge . " This Was a Real Nice Clambake " was repurposed from a song , " A Real Nice Hayride " , written for Oklahoma ! but not used . 
