Lyrics On the Steps of the Palace - Stephen Sondheim

On the Steps of the Palace

He is very smart Prince
He’s a prince who prepares
Knowing this time I’d run him,
He spread pitch on the stairs.
And I’m caught unawares.
Well it means that he cares-
This is more than just malice
Better stop and take Stock
while you’re standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace.
All right what do you want?
Have to make a decision.
Why not stay here and be caught?
Should I give that a thought,
What would be his response?
But what if he knew
Who I am when I know
That I’m not what he thinks
That he wants?
And that what I am?
What a prince would envision?
But then how can you know
Who are you are till you know
What I want, which I don’t?
So then which do you pick:
Where you’re safe, out of sight,
And yourself, but where
everything’s wrong
or where everything’s right
But you know that you’ll never belong?
And whichever you pick,
Do it quick,
'Cause your starting to stick
To the steps of the palace.
It’s my first big decision,
The choice isn’t easy to make.
To arrive at the ball
Is exciting and all
Once you’re there, though it’s scary
And it’s fun to decieve
When you know you can leave,
But you have to wary.
There’s alot at stake,
But I’ve stalled long enough,
'Cause Im still standing stuck
In the stuff on the step.
Better run along home
and avoid the collision.
Even though they don’t care,
I’ll be better out there
Where there is nothing to choose.
So there is nothing to lose
So I pry up my shoes.
Without thinking it through,
Things don’t have to collide,
I know what my decision is,
Which is not to decide.
Ill leave him clue:
For example, a shoe.
And then see what he’ll do.
Now it’s he and not you
Who will be stuck with a shoe,
In a stew, in the goo,
And I’ve learned something too,
Something I never knew,
On the steps of the palace…