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.

JUDASMy mind is clearer now – at last all too wellI can see where we all soon will beIf you strip away the myth from the manYou will see where we all soon will beJesus! You've started to believeThe things they say of youYou really do believeThis talk of God is trueAnd all the good you've doneWill soon get swept awayYou've begun to matter moreThan the things you sayListen Jesus I don't like what I seeAll I ask is that you listen to meAnd remember – I've been your right hand man all alongYou have set them all on fireThey think they've found the new MessiahAnd they'll hurt you when they find they're wrongI remember when this whole thing beganNo talk of God then – we called you a manAnd believe me – my admiration for you hasn't diedBut every word you say todayGets twisted round some other wayAnd they'll hurt you if they think you've liedNazareth your famous son should have stayed a great unknown Like his father carving wood – he'd have made goodTables chairs and oaken chests would have suited Jesus bestHe'd have caused nobody harm – no-one alarmListen 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 crowdFor we are getting much too loudAnd they'll crush us if we go too farListen Jesus to the warning I givePlease remember that I want us to liveBut it's sad to see our chances weakening with every hourAll your followers are blindToo much heaven on their mindsIt was beautiful but now it's sourYes it's all gone sour

What's the buzz. / Strange thing, Mystifying.

Bethany, Friday Night

APOSTLESWhat's the buzz? Tell me, what's happening?JESUSWhy should you want to know?Don't you mind about the future,Don't you try to think aheadSave tomorrow for tomorrow,Think about today insteadAPOSTLESWhat's the buzz? Tell me what's happening?JESUSI could give you facts and figures -I could give you plans and forecastsEven tell you where I'm going -APOSTLESWhen do we ride into Jerusalem?JESUSWhy should you want to know?Why are you obsessed with fightingTimes and fates you can't defy?If you knew the path we're ridingYou'd understand it less than IAPOSTLESWhat's the buzz? Tell me what's happeningMARY MAGDALENELet me try to cool down your face a bitJESUSThat feels nice, so nice...Mary that is good -While you prattle through your supper – Where and when and who and howShe alone has tried to give meWhat I need right here and nowAPOSTLESWhat's the buzz? Tell me what's happening?JUDASIt seems to me a strange thing, mystifyingThat a man like you can waste his time on women of her kindYes, I can understand that she amusesBut to let her stroke you, kiss your hair, is hardly in your lineIt's not that I object to her professionBut she doesn't fit in well with that you teach and sayIt doesn't help us if you're inconsistentThey only need a small excuse to put us all awayJESUSWho are you to criticise her? Who are you to despise her?Leave her, leave her, let her be nowLeave her, leave her, she's with me nowIf your slate is clean – then you can throw stonesIf your slate is not then leave her aloneI'm amazed that men like you can be soShallow thick and slowThere is not a man among you who knowsor cares if I come or goALL (save JUDAS)No you're wrong! You're very wrong!How can you say that?JESUSNot one – not one of you!