Jesus Christ Superstar

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!
 

Everything's alright.

 

MARY MAGDALENE

Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh, don't you know
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without you tonight
If we try we'll get by so forget all about us tonight
 
 

APOSTLES' WOMEN

Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes
 
 

MARY MAGDALENE

Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you and anoint you
Myrrh for your hot forehead, oh, then you'll feel
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine
And it's cool and the ointment's sweet
For the fire in your heap and feet
Close your eyes, close your eyes
And relax think of nothing tonight
 
 

APOSTLES' WOMEN

Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes
 
 

JUDAS

Woman, your fine ointment – brand new and expensive
Could have been saved for the poor
Why has it been wasted? We could have raised maybe
Three hundred silver pieces or more
People who are hungry, people who are starving
Matter more than your feet and hair
 
 

MARY MAGDALENE

Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh, don't you know
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine
And we want you to sleep well tonight
If we try we'll get by so forget all about us tonight
 
 

APOSTLES' WOMEN

Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes
 
 

JESUS

Surely, you're not saying we have the resources
To save the poor from their lot?
There will be poor always, pathetically struggling -
Look at the good things you're got
Think! While you still have me
More! While you still see me
You'll be lost and you'll be so sorry when I'm gone
 
 

MARY MAGDALENE

Sleep and I shall soothe you, clam you, and anoint you
Myrrh for your hot forehead, oh, then you'll feel
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine
And it's cool and the ointment's sweet
For the fire in your head and feet
Close your eyes, close your eyes
And relax think of nothing tonight
Close your eyes, close your eyes and relax
 
 

ALL

Everything's alright, yes, everything's alright, yes
 

This Jesus must die.

      Jerusalem, Sunday

 

PRIEST 1

Good Caiaphas the council waits for you
The Pharisees and priests are here for you
 
 

CAIAPHAS

Ah gentlemen – you know why we are here
We've not much time and quite a problem here
 
 

MOB (outside)

Hosanna! Superstar!
 
 

ANNAS

Listen to that howling mob of blockheads in the street!
A trick or two with lepers and the whole town's on its feet
 
 

ALL

He is dangerous
 
 

MOB (outside)

Jesus Christ Superstar -
Tell us that you're who they say you are
 
 

ALL

He is dangerous
 
 

PRIEST 2

The man is in town right now to whip up some support
 
 

PRIEST 3

A rabble rousing mission that I think we must abort
 
 

ALL

He is dangerous!
 
 

MOB (outside)

Jesus Christ Superstar!
 
 

ALL

He is dangerous!
 
 

PRIEST 2

Look Caiaphas – they're right outside our yard
 
 

PRIEST 3

Quick Caiaphas – go call the Roman guard
 
 

CAIAPHAS

No wait – we need a more permanent solution
to our problem ...
 
 

ANNAS

What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth
Miracle wonderman – hero of fools?
 
 

PRIEST 3

No riots, no army, no fighting, no slogans
 
 

CAIAPHAS

One thing I'll say for him – Jesus is cool
 
 

ANNAS

We dare not leave him to his own devices
His half-witted fans will get out of control
 
 

PRIEST 3

But how can we stop him? His glamour increases
By leaps every minute – he's top of the poll
 
 

CAIAPHAS

I see bad things arising –
The crowd crown him king,
Which the Romans would ban
I see blood and destruction,
Our elimination, because of one man
Blood and destruction, because of one man
 
 

ALL

Because, because, because of one man
 
 

CAIAPHAS

Our elimination, because of one man
 
 

ALL

Because, because, because of one, 'cause of one, 'cause of one man
 
 

PRIEST 3

What then to do about this Jesusmania?
 
 

ANNAS

How do we deal with the carpenter king?
 
 

PRIEST 3

Where do we start with a man who is bigger
Then John was when John did his Baptism thing?
 
 

CAIAPHAS

Fools! You have no perception!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high!
We must crush him completely -
So like John before him, this Jesus must die
For the sake of the nation this Jesus must die
 
 

ALL

Must die, must die, this Jesus must die
 
 

CAIAPHAS

So like John before him, this Jesus must die
 
 

ALL

Must die, must die, this Jesus must, Jesus must, Jesus must die!
 

Hosanna.

 

CROWD

Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey JC, JC won't you smile at me?
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar
 
 

CAIAPHAS

Tell the rabble to be quiet we anticipate a riot
This common crowd is much too loud
Tell the mob who sing your song
That they are fools and they are wrong
They are a curse, they should disperse
 
 

CROWD

Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey JC, JC won't you are alright by me
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar
 
 

JESUS

Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd?
Nothing can be done to stop the shouting
If every tongue was still the noise would still continue
The rocks and stones them selves would start to sing:
 
 

CROWD (with JESUS)

Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey JC, JC won't you fight for me?
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar
 

Simon Zealotes. / Poor Jerusalem.

 

CROWD

Christ you know I love you
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God
So tell me that I'm saved
Christ you know I love you
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God
So tell me that I'm saved
Jesus I am with you
Touch me touch me Jesus
Jesus I am on your side
Kiss me kiss me Jesus
 
 

SIMON ZEALOTES

Christ, what more do you need to convince you
That you've made it and you're easily as strong
As the filth from Rome who rape our country
And who've terrorized our people for so long?
 
 

CROWD

Christ you know I love you
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God
So tell me that I'm saved
Christ you know I love you
Did you see I waved?
I believe in you and God
So tell me that I'm saved
Jesus I am with you
Touch me touch me Jesus
Jesus I am on your side
Kiss me kiss me Jesus
 
 

SIMON ZEALOTES

There must be over fifty thousand
Screaming love and more for you
Everyone of fifty thousand
Would do whatever you ask him to
Keep them yelling their devotion
But add a touch of hate at Rome
You will rise to a greater power
We will win ourselves a home
You'll get the power and the glory
For ever and ever and ever
Amen! Amen!
 
 

JESUS

Neither you Simon, nor the fifty thousand
Nor the Romans, nor the Jews,
Nor Judas, nor the Twelve,
Nor the Priests, nor the Scribes
Nor doomed Jerusalem itself,
Understand what power is
Understand what glory is
Understand at all ... understand at all
If you knew all that I knew, my poor Jerusalem
You'd see the truth, but you close your eyes
But you close your eyes
While you live your troubles are many, poor Jerusalem
To conquer death you only have to die
You only have to die
 

Pilate's dream.

      Pontius Pilate's House, Monday

 

PILATE

I dreamed I met a Galilean
A most amazing man
He had that look you very rarely find
The haunting hunted kind
 
 
I asked him to say what had happened
How it all began
I asked again – he never said a word
As if he hadn't heard
 
 
And next the room was full of wild and angry men
They seemed to hate this man -
They fell on him and then
They disappeared again
 
 
Than I saw thousands of millions
Crying for this man
And then I heard them mentioning my name
And leaving me the blame
 

The temple.

 

MONEYLENDERS AND MERCHANTS

Roll on up – for my price is down
Come on in – for the best in town
Take your pick of the finest wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
Roll on up – for my price is down
Come on in – for the best in town
Take pour pick of the finest wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
 
 
Name your price I got everything
Came and buy it's all going fast
Borrow cash on the finest terms
Hurry now while stocks still last
Roll on up – for my price is down
Come on in – for the best in town
Take your pick of the finest wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
 
 
Roll on up – for my price is down
Come on in – for the best in town
Take pour pick of the finest wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
Name your price I got everything
Came and buy it's all going fast
Borrow cash on the finest terms
Hurry now while stocks still last
 
 
Roll on up – for my price is down
Come on in – for the best in town
Take your pick of the finest wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
Roll on up – for my price is down
Come on in – for the best in town
 
 

JESUS

My temple should be a house of prayer
But you have made it a den of thieves
Got out! Get out!
My time is almost through
Little left to do
After all I've tried for three years,
Seems like thirty
Seems like thirty!
 
 

CROWD

See my eyes I can hardly see
See me stand I can hardly walk
I believe you can make me whole
See my tongue I can hardly talk
See my skin I'm a mass of blood
See my legs I can hardly stand
I believe you can make me well
See my purse I'm a poor poor man
Will you touch will you mend me Christ
Won't you touch will you heal me Christ
Will you kiss you can cure me Christ
Won't you kiss won't you pay me Christ
See my eyes I can hardly see
See me stand I can hardly walk
I believe you can make me whole
See my tongue I can hardly talk
See my skin I'm a mass of blood
See my legs I can hardly stand
I believe you can make me well
See my purse I'm a poor poor man
Will you touch will you mend me Christ
Won't you touch will you heal me Christ
Will you kiss you can cure me Christ
Won't you kiss won't you pay me Christ
See my eyes I can hardly see
See me stand I can hardly walk
I believe you can make me whole
See my tongue I can hardly talk
See my skin I'm a mass of blood
See my legs I can hardly stand
I believe you can make me well
See my purse I'm a poor poor man
Will you touch will you mend me Christ
Won't you touch will you heal me Christ
Will you kiss you can cure me Christ
Won't you kiss won't you pay me Christ
 
 

JESUS

There's too many of you – don't push me
There's too little of me – don't crowd me
Heal yourselves!
 

Everything's alright.

 

MARY MAGDALENE

Try not to get worried try no to turn on to
Problems that upset you oh don't you know
Everything's alright yes everything's fine
 
 

JESUS

And I think I shall sleep well tonight
Let the world turn without me tonight
 
 

MARY MAGDALENE

Close your eyes close year eyes
And forget all about us tonight
 

I don't know how to love him?

 

MARY MAGDALENE

I don't know how to love him
What to do how to move him
I've been changed yes really changed
In these past few days when I've seen myself
I seem like someone else
 
 
I don't know how to take this
I don't see why he moves me
He's a man he's just a man
And I've had so many men before
In very many ways
He's just one more
 
 
Should I bring him down
Should I scream and shout
Should I speak of love
Let my feelings out
I never thought I'd come to this -
What's it all about
 
 
Don't you think it's rather funny
I should be in this position
I'm the one who's always been
So calm so cool, no lover's fool
Running every show
He scares me so
 
 
I never thought I'd come to this -
What's it all about
Yet if he said he loved me
I'd be lost I'd be frightened
I couldn't cope just couldn't cope
I'd turn my head I'd back away
I wouldn't want to know
He scares me so
I want him so
I love him so
 

Damned for all time. / Blood money.

      Jerusalem, Tuesday

 

JUDAS

Now if I help you it matters that you see
These sordid kind of things are coming hard to me
It's taken me some time to work out what to do
I weighed the whole thing up before I came to you
I have no thought at all about my own reward
I really didn't come here of my own accord
Just don't say I'm
Damned for all time
 
 
I came because I had to I'm the one who saw
Jesus can't control it like he did before
And furthermore I know that Jesus thinks so too
Jesus wouldn't mind that I was here with you
I have no thought at all about my own reward
I really didn't come here of my own accord
Just don't say I'm
Damned for all time
 
 
Annas you're a friend a wordly man and wise
Caiaphas my friend I know you sympathise
Why are we the prophets? Why are we the ones?
Who see the sad solution – know what must be done
I have no thought at all about my own reward
I really didn't come here of my own accord
Just don't say I'm
Damned for all time
 
 

ANNAS

Cut the protesting forget the excuses
We want information get up off the floor
 
 

CAIAPHAS

We have the papers we need to arrest him
You know his movements – we know the law
 
 

ANNAS

Your help in this matter won't go unrewarded
 
 

CAIAPHAS

We'll pay you in silver – cash on the nail
We just need to know where the soldiers can find him
 
 

ANNAS

With no crowd around him
 
 

CAIAPHAS

Then we can't fail
 
 
***
 
 

JUDAS

I don't need your blood money!
 
 

CAIAPHAS

Oh that doesn't matter our expenses are good
 
 

JUDAS

I don't want your blood money!
 
 

ANNAS

But you might as well take it – we think that you should
 
 

CAIAPHAS

Think of the things you can do with that money
Choose any charity – give to the poor
We've noted your motives we've noted your feelings
This isn't blood money – it's a fee nothing
Fee nothing, fee nothing more.
 
 

JUDAS

On Thursday night you'll find him where you want him
Far from the crowds in the Garden of Gethsemane
 
 

CHOIR

Well done Judas
Good old Judas
 

ACT-II

The last supper.

      Thursday Night

 

APOSTLES

Look at all my trials and tribulations
Sinking in a gentle pool of wine
Don't disturb me now I can see the answers
Till this evening is this morning life is fine
Always hoped that I'd be an apostle
Knew that I would make it if I tried
Then when we retire we can write the gospels
So they'll still talk about us when we've died
 
 

JESUS

The end ...
Is just a little harder when brought about by friends
For all you care this wine could be my blood
For all you care this bread could be my body
The end!
This is my blood you drink
This is my body you eat
If you would remember me when you eat and drink ...
I must be mad thinking I'll be remembered – yes
I must be out of my head!
Look at your blank faces! My name will mean nothing
Ten minutes after I'm dead!
One of you denies me
One of you betrays me -
 
 

APOSTLES

Not I! Who would? Impossible!
 
 

JESUS

Peter will deny me in just a few hours
Three time will deny me – and that's not all I see
One of you here dining, one of my twelve chosen
Will leave to betray me -
 
 

JUDAS

Cut out the dramatics! You know very well who -
 
 

JESUS

Why don't you go do it?
 
 

JUDAS

You want me to do it!
 
 

JESUS

Harry they are waiting
 
 

JUDAS

If you knew why I do it ...
 
 

JESUS

I don't care why you do it!
 
 

JUDAS

To think I admired you
For now I despise you
 
 

JESUS

You liar – you Judas
 
 

JUDAS

You want me to do it!
What if I just stayed here
And ruined your ambition?
Christ you deserve it!
 
 

JESUS

Hurry you fool, hurry and go,
Save me your speeches, I don't want to know – Go!
 
 

APOSTLES

Look at all my trials and tribulations
Sinking in a gentle pool of wine
What's that in the bread it's gone to my head
Till this morning is this evening life is fine
Always hoped that I'd be an apostle
Knew that I would make it if I tried
Then when we retire we can write the gospels
So they'll all talk about us when we've died
 
 

JUDAS

You sad pathetic man – see where you've brought us to
Our ideals die around us all because of you
And now the saddest cut of all -
Someone has to turn you in
Like a common criminal, like a wounded animal
A jaded mandarin
A jaded mandarin
A jaded faded mandarin
 
 

JESUS

Get out! They're waiting! They're waiting for you!
 
 

JUDAS

Everytime I look at you I don't understand
Why you let the things you did get so out of hand
You'd have managed better if you'd had it planned -
 
 

APOSTLES

Look at all my trials and tribulations