Mr. Harnick’s lyrics were characterized by their prosaic, humanity-rich quality. He favored story and character over cleverness. Always there was craft. Mr. Harnick’s verses could effortlessly express the hopes and fears of the characters without crossing over into sentimentality. This last aspect, however, was derived from exposure to Mr. Bock, according to the lyricist. “One of the things I need in a collaborator is a sense of optimism,” said Mr. Harnick, who had the bookish, bespectacled look of an accountant, “because I tend to approach things skeptically and pessimistically. Jerry Bock is a bubbling, ebullient personality.”