I have recently coded the 1st line of an aria from an opera composed by George Gershwyn and I am ready to share with you the following information:

1. The code is a simple substitution code, ten distinct letters were replaced by the digits 0,1,2…9.
2. One letter was left uncoded.
3. The line consists of six words.
4. When coded the 1st, 4th, and the 5th words become square numbers and do not use the non-coded letter ,
5. The other words are either multiples of a square number, bigger than one, or use the uncoded letter.

I dare you to find the name of the aria, the numbers in my coding (or alternate solution complying with the above terms) and to explain how it relates to puzzle's title.

It seems that Gershwin wrote one opera, Porgy and Bess.

The libretto (still copyright in some places, but not in the EU) can be found here:

http://www.teatroregioparma.org/stagionelirica2008/porgy/porgy_libretto.htm

One can argue about what constitutes an 'aria'. Adopting a broad approach with the component letters followed by their count:

OH, I GOT PLENTY OF NUTTIN {E,F,G,H,I,L,N,O,P,T,U,V,(12)}

OH, WHAT YOU WANT WID BESS {A,B,D,E,H,I,N,O,S,T,U,W,Y, (13)}

SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN IS EASY (sometimes broken so the first line just comprises 'Summertime') {A,D,E,H,I,L,M,N,R,S,T,U,V,Y, (14)}

LISSEN TO YO DADDY WARN YOU {A,D,E,I,L,N,O,R,S,T,U,W,Y,(13)}

OH BESS OH WHERES MY BESS {B,E,H,M,O,R,S,W,Y,(9)} (treating the apostrophe as part of the word)

OH LAWD IM ON MY WAY {A,D,H,I,L,M,N,O,W,Y, (10)} (not the first line, and not an aria in any case, and also treating the apostrophe as part of the word) could qualify, but OH and ON cannot both be square.

Are there any that I've missed?

Edited on July 13, 2012, 2:13 am

Posted by broll on 2012-07-13 02:12:06