Jesus Christ Superstar
Authors:
Andrew Lloyd Webber – music, orchestration, musical direction
Tim Rice – lirics
The singers:
Judas Iscariot – Murray Head
Jesus Christ – Ian Gillan
Mary Magdalene – Ivonna Elliman
Pontius Pilate – Barry Dennen
King Herod – Mike D'Abo
Peter – Paul Devis
Caiaphas, High Priest – Victor Brox
Priest – Paul Raven
Annas – Brain Keith
Simon Zealotes – John Gustafson
Maid by the Fire – Annette Brox
ACT-I
Overture.
No text.
Heaven on their minds.
JUDAS
My mind is clearer now – at last all too well
I can see where we all soon will be
If you strip away the myth from the man
You will see where we all soon will be
Jesus! You've started to believe
The things they say of you
You really do believe
This talk of God is true
And all the good you've done
Will soon get swept away
You've begun to matter more
Than the things you say
Listen Jesus I don't like what I see
All I ask is that you listen to me
And remember – I've been your right hand man all along
You have set them all on fire
They think they've found the new Messiah
And they'll hurt you when they find they're wrong
I remember when this whole thing began
No talk of God then – we called you a man
And believe me – my admiration for you hasn't died
But every word you say today
Gets twisted round some other way
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied
Nazareth your famous son should have stayed a great unknown
Like his father carving wood – he'd have made good
Tables chairs and oaken chests would have suited Jesus best
He'd have caused nobody harm – no-one alarm
Listen Jesus do you care for your race?
Don't you see we must keep in our place?
We are occupied – have you forgotten how put down we are?
I'm frightened by the crowd
For we are getting much too loud
And they'll crush us if we go too far
Listen Jesus to the warning I give
Please remember that I want us to live
But it's sad to see our chances weakening with every hour
All your followers are blind
Too much heaven on their minds
It was beautiful but now it's sour
Yes it's all gone sour
What's the buzz. / Strange thing, Mystifying.
Bethany, Friday Night
APOSTLES
What's the buzz? Tell me, what's happening?
JESUS
Why should you want to know?
Don't you mind about the future,
Don't you try to think ahead
Save tomorrow for tomorrow,
Think about today instead
APOSTLES
What's the buzz? Tell me what's happening?
JESUS
I could give you facts and figures -
I could give you plans and forecasts
Even tell you where I'm going -
APOSTLES
When do we ride into Jerusalem?
JESUS
Why should you want to know?
Why are you obsessed with fighting
Times and fates you can't defy?
If you knew the path we're riding
You'd understand it less than I
APOSTLES
What's the buzz? Tell me what's happening
MARY MAGDALENE
Let me try to cool down your face a bit
JESUS
That feels nice, so nice...
Mary that is good -
While you prattle through your supper –
Where and when and who and how
She alone has tried to give me
What I need right here and now
APOSTLES
What's the buzz? Tell me what's happening?
JUDAS
It seems to me a strange thing, mystifying
That a man like you can waste his time on women of her kind
Yes, I can understand that she amuses
But to let her stroke you, kiss your hair, is hardly in your line
It's not that I object to her profession
But she doesn't fit in well with that you teach and say
It doesn't help us if you're inconsistent
They only need a small excuse to put us all away
JESUS
Who are you to criticise her?
Who are you to despise her?
Leave her, leave her, let her be now
Leave her, leave her, she's with me now
If your slate is clean – then you can throw stones
If your slate is not then leave her alone
I'm amazed that men like you can be so
Shallow thick and slow
There is not a man among you who knows
or cares if I come or go
ALL (save JUDAS)
No you're wrong! You're very wrong!
How can you say that?
JESUS
Not one – not one of you!