Defying Gravity

**"Defying Gravity"** is the finale for Wicked's first act, when Elphaba, who, until now, has seen the Wizard of Oz as a heroic figure who can give her life some noble direction, discovers that he is not at all what he seems. The Wizard's regime, in fact, is waging a propaganda campaign against the Animals of Oz (including Dr. Dillamond), who have been oppressed to such a degree that they lose their powers of speech or worse, never learn to speak at all. (Dr. Dillamond, for instance, initially starts to lose his speech in "Something Bad" when he pronounces bad as 'baaaad,' bleating like an actual goat). Realizing this, and despite Glinda's attempts to dissuade her, Elphaba vows to do everything in her power to fight the Wizard and his sinister plans. She sings of how she wants to live without limits, going against the rules that others have set for her, trying to convince Glinda to follow her, by a moment, without success. During the song, Elphaba, apparently cornered by those who are hunting her, enchants a broomstick to levitate and, in the last verse, rises from the stage and levitates above the angered Citizens of Oz, who try in vain to "bring her down."

The song is widely regarded as being the musical's signature song, although the songs Popular and For Good have lived up to its name as well. The musical has generally received thunderous applause after this song due to the song's status as a showstopper.

The song touches on elements from some earlier themes, with Elphaba singing "Unlimited!" as sung in The Wizard and I and the Citizens of Oz again singing that No One Mourns The Wicked

## Lyrics

GLINDA:

(spoken) Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for once, instead of flying off the handle!

(sung) I hope you're happy!

I hope you're happy now

I hope you're happy how you

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

BOTH:

So though I can't imagine how

I hope you're happy right now

GLINDA:

(spoken) Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry:

(sung) You can still be with the Wizard

What you've worked and waited for

(sung) 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?

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:

(spoken) Glinda - come with me. Think of what we could do: together.

(sung) Unlimited

Together we're unlimited

Together we'll be the greatest team

There's ever been

Glinda -

Dreams, the way we planned 'em

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!

(spoken) Well? Are you coming?

GLINDA:

I hope you're happy

Now that you're choosing this

ELPHABA:

(spoken) You too

(sung) I hope it brings you bliss

BOTH:

I really hope you get it

And you don't live to regret it

I hope you're happy in the end

So if you care to find me

Look to the western sky!

As someone told me lately:

"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"

And if I'm flying solo

At least I'm flying free

To those who'd 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've got to bring her

ELPHABA:

Ahhh!

CITIZENS OF OZ:

Down!