So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
GLINDA
Elphaba, why couldn’t you have stayed calm, for once? Instead of flying off the handle!
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you've
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever
ELPHABA
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy too
I hope you're proud how you would
Grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition
GLINDA & ELPHABA
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy
Right now
GLINDA
Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry.
You can still be with The Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted -
ELPHABA
I know
But I don't want it--No!
I can't want it anymore!
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap...
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
GLINDA
Can't I make you understand
You're having delusions of grandeur?
ELPHABA
I'm through accepting limits
Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
Glinda, come with me. Think of what we could do - together!
Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been - Glinda!
Dreams the way we planned 'em
GLINDA
If we work in tandem
GLINDA & ELPHABA
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I, defying gravity
With you and I defying gravity
ELPHABA
They'll never bring us down!
Well, are you coming?
GLINDA
I hope you're happy
I hope your happy now that your choosing this -
ELPHABA
You too--
I hope it brings you bliss
GLINDA & ELPHABA
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy my friend
ELPHABA
So if you care to find me
Look to the Western sky!
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me!
Tell them how I am defying gravity
I'm flying high, defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!!
GLINDA
I hope you're happy...
CITIZENS OF OZ
Look at her
She's wicked
Get her!!
ELPHABA
Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ
No one mourns the wicked
So we got to bring her--
ELPHABA
Ahhhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ
--Down!
Elphaba, why couldn’t you have stayed calm, for once? Instead of flying off the handle!
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you've
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever
ELPHABA
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy too
I hope you're proud how you would
Grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition
GLINDA & ELPHABA
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy
Right now
GLINDA
Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry.
You can still be with The Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted -
ELPHABA
I know
But I don't want it--No!
I can't want it anymore!
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap...
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
GLINDA
Can't I make you understand
You're having delusions of grandeur?
ELPHABA
I'm through accepting limits
Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
Glinda, come with me. Think of what we could do - together!
Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been - Glinda!
Dreams the way we planned 'em
GLINDA
If we work in tandem
GLINDA & ELPHABA
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I, defying gravity
With you and I defying gravity
ELPHABA
They'll never bring us down!
Well, are you coming?
GLINDA
I hope you're happy
I hope your happy now that your choosing this -
ELPHABA
You too--
I hope it brings you bliss
GLINDA & ELPHABA
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy my friend
ELPHABA
So if you care to find me
Look to the Western sky!
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me!
Tell them how I am defying gravity
I'm flying high, defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!!
GLINDA
I hope you're happy...
CITIZENS OF OZ
Look at her
She's wicked
Get her!!
ELPHABA
Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ
No one mourns the wicked
So we got to bring her--
ELPHABA
Ahhhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ
--Down!
Lyrics submitted by pixiedust133
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Kristin Chenoweth