Dancing Through Life

'Dancing thorough life' is the song Fiyero Tigelaar sings when he first comes to Shiz, along with some other characters. It is the sixth song in act one, and the sixth song in the play all together. It was the last song written, for a previous draft of this song, see: Which way is this party?

## Plot

It starts after class, Elphaba comes over, and is almost run over by Fiyero's ride. She yells at the driver, and Fiyero.

## Dancing Thorough Life

### Sung by

Fiyero Tigelaar/Glinda Upland/Boq/Nessarose Thropp/Shiz StudentsElphaba Thropp

### Status

Used in play/In soundtrack

Fiyero points out that maybe the driver saw green and thought it meant go. He then starts singing to the people a Shiz, about how the schools are bad, he says that he was kicked out of them, so he would know. And that want people to become less shallow. but he does not think, he sings about how he just dances thorough life, mindless. He says that life is less painless for people who are brainless, and that those who don't try never look foolish. He asks Galinda where to go to he party that night, she says the Oz dust ballroom, he says that it sounds perfect, and to go down to the Oz dust ballroom and they would meet there later that night. And they could dance all night. Most of them leave, until that night. But Boq comes and asks Galinda to go to the party that night with him, she says that was kind, but what would be even kinder was for someone to ask Nessarose she sings about it. And Boq says that maybe he could ask her, she thanks him, and he go's to ask Nessarose, Fiyero tells her she did a good job with that, she says she does not know what he means, but she is free that night, he says he will pick her up 8, they sing about how after all, now that they meant each other, everyone should know that they should date each other, and that they were both perfect. So they were perfect together, and that they were born to be forever Dancing thorough life. Elphaba is talking about, how it made it no sense that some silly rich boy came, and now everyone was off to go with to a gathering. She and Nessarose talk about how Galinda 'Helped Boq to be brave to go ask Nessarose' Elphaba go's to talk to Galinda. Meanwhile, Galinda and her friends are getting ready for the party, one of them finds a witch hat, Galinda says that her Grandmother, was always getting her the worst things, and that she would give it away but she did not hate anyone that much. The friends said that she did, and she hated Elphaba that much. Ephaba comes to talk to Galinda, and Galinda gives her the hat, she sings about to, and leaves, that night, they are all at the party, and singing, Elphaba comes and everyone make fun of her hat. She dances by herself, Galinda feels bad, and dances with her, they all sing the rest of dancing thorough life.

## Lyrics

Normal text - Sung.
**Bold**- Spoken

Fiyero:

The trouble with schools is
They always try to teach the wrong lessons
Believe me, I've been kicked out
Of enough of them to know
They want you to become less callow
Less shallow
But I say: why invite stress in?
Stop studying strife
And learn to live the unexamined life

Dancing through life
Skimming the surface
Gliding where turf is smooth
Life's more painless
For the brainless
Why think too hard
When it's so soothing

Dancing through life
No need to tough it
When you can slough it off as I do
Nothing matters
But knowing nothing matters
It's just life
So keep dancing through

Dancing through life
Swaying and sweeping
And always keeping cool
Life is fraught-less
When you're thoughtless
Those who don't try
Never look foolish

Dancing through life
Mindless and careless
Make sure you're where less trouble is rife.
Woes are fleeting
Blows are glancing
When you're dancing
Through life

**So - what's the most swankified place in town?**

Glinda

**That would be the Ozdust Ballroom.**

Fiyero

**Sounds perfect.**

Let's go down to the Ozdust Ballroom
We'll meet there later tonight
We can dance till it's light
Find the prettiest girl
Give 'er a whirl
Right on down to the Ozdust Ballroom
Come on - follow me
You'll be happy to be there

All

Dancing through life
Down at the Ozdust

Fiyero
If only because dust
Is what we come to

All
Nothing matters
But knowing nothing matters
It's just life

Fiyero
So keep dancing through

Boq
**Miss Galinda -**
I hope you'll save at least one dance for me.
I'll be right there.
Waiting.
All night.

Galinda
**Oh - that's so kind.**
**But you know what would be even kinder?**

See that tragically beautiful girl
The one in the chair
It seems so unfair
We should go on a spree
And not she
Gee
I know someone would be my hero
If that someone were to go invite her

Boq
**Well, maybe - I could invite her!**

Galinda
**Oh, Biq, really?**
You would do that for me?

Boq
**I would do anything for you, Miss Galinda**

Galinda
**So...**

Fiyero
**So I'll be picking you up around eight?**

Galinda
'*After all -*

Now that we've met one another

Fiyero and Glinda
It's clear we deserve each other

Glinda
You're perfect

Fiyero
You're perfect

Both
So we're perfect together
Born to be forever
Dancing through life

Nessarose
**Oh, Elphaba - isn't it wonderful?**

Finally, for this one night
I'm about to have a fun night
With this Munchkin boy
Galinda found for me
And I only wish there were
Something I could do for her
To repay her
Elphaba, see?
We deserve each other
And Galinda helped it come true
We deserve each other,
Me and Boq

Please, Elphaba try to understand.

Elphaba
I do

**Listen, Glinda -**
Nessa and I were talking about you just now.

Glinda
**And I was just talking about you!**
I thought you might want to wear this hat to the party tonight!

It's really, uh, sharp, don't you think?
You know black is this year's pink
You deserve each other
This hat and you
You're both so smart
You deserve each other
So here, out of the goodness of my heart.

Boq
**Listen, Nessa.**

Nessarose
**Yes?**

Noq
Uh - Nessa
I've got something to confess, a
Reason why, well -
Why I asked you here tonight
Now I know it isn't fair

Nessarose
**Oh, Boq, I know why.**

Boq
**You do?**

Nessrose
It's because I'm in this chair
And you felt sorry for me
Well - isn't that right?

Boq
**No! No! It's because, because,**
Because you are so beautiful!

Nessrose
**Oh, Boq, I think you're wonderful!**
And we deserve each other
Don't you see, this is our chance?
We deserve each other
Don't we, Boq?

Boq
**You know what?**
Let's dance.

Nessarose
**What?!**

Boq
Let's dance!

All

Dancing through life
Down at the Ozdust
If only because dust
Is what we come to!
And the strange thing
Your life could end up changing
While you're dancing
Through!