Prologue: Into the Woods lyrics

[NARRATOR]

Once upon a time

In a far-off kingdom

There lay a small village

At the edge of the woods

[CINDERELLA]

I wish...

[NARRATOR]

And in this village

[CINDERELLA]

More than anything...

[NARRATOR]

lived a young maiden,

[CINDERELLA]

More than life...

More than jewels...

[NARRATOR]

A carefree young lad...

[JACK]

I wish...

More than life...

[NARRATOR]

And a childless baker...

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

I wish...

[NARRATOR]

with his wife.

[THE BAKER]

More than anything...

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

More than the moon...

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

I wish...

[CINDERELLA]

The King is giving a Festival.

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

More than life...

[JACK]

I wish...

[CINDERELLA]

I wish to go to the Festival.

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

More than riches...

[CINDERELLA]

and the ball...

[JACK]

I wish my cow would

give us some milk.

[CINDERELLA & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

More than anything...

[THE BAKER]

I wish we had a child.

[JACK]

Please, pal -

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

I want a child...

[JACK]

Squeeze, pal...

[CINDERELLA]

I wish to go to the Festival.

[JACK]

I wish you'd give us some

milk or even cheese...

I wish...

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

I wish we might have a child.

I wish...

[STEPMOTHER]

You wish to go to the Festival?

[NARRATOR]

The poor girl's parents had died,

[STEPMOTHER]

You, Cinderella, the Festival?

You wish to go to the Festival?

[FLORINDA]

What, you, Cinderella, the Festival?

The Festival?!

[LUCINDA]

What, you wish to go to the Festival?

[ALL THREE]

The Festival?

The King's Festival?

[NARRATOR]

And now she lived with her stepmother

[STEPMOTHER]

The Festival... HA!

[NARRATOR]

who had two daughters of her own.

[FLORINDA]

Look at your nails!

[LUCINDA]

Look at your dress!

[STEPMOTHER]

People would laugh at you

[CINDERELLA]

Nevertheless,

I still want to go to the Festival

And dance before the Prince.

[STEPMOTHER & STEPSISTERS]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...

[NARRATOR]

All three were beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart.

[NARRATOR]

The young lad had no father and his mother -

[JACK'S MOTHER]

I wish...

[NARRATOR]

Well, she was at her wit's end

[JACK'S MOTHER]

I wish my son were not a fool.

I wish my house was not a mess.

I wish the cow was full of milk.

I wish the walls were full of gold -

I wish a lot of things...

What in heaven's name are you doing

with the cow inside the house?

[JACK]

I thought if he got nice and warm,

he might produce some milk.

[JACK'S MOTHER]

It's a she...

How many times do I have to tell you,

only shes can give milk?

[NARRATOR]

And then there was a hungry little girl

who always wore a red cape.

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

I wish...

It's not for me,

It's for my Granny in the woods.

A loaf of bread, please

To bring my poor old hungry

Granny in the woods...

Just a loaf of bread, please...

[STEPMOTHER]

Cinderella, if you can pick up these lentils,

and finish your chores in time,

then you may go to the ball with us.

Come along ladies...

[STEPSISTERS]

Yes, Mother.

Good luck.

[CINDERELLA]

Come, little birds,

Down from the eaves

And the leaves,

Over fields,

Out of castles and ponds...

[JACK]

Now, squeeze, pal...

[CINDERELLA]

Ahhhhhhhhhh...

Quick, little birds,

Flick through the ashes.

Pick and peck, but swiftly,

Sift through the ashes,

Into the pot...

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Now listen to me well, son.

Milky-White must be taken to market.

[JACK]

But, mother, no! He's the best cow in the world...

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Was -

She has been dry for weeks now,

with no food or money,

we've got no choice but to sell her.

[JACK]

But, Milky-White's my best friend

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Look at her...

There are bugs on her dugs.

There are flies in her eyes.

There's a lump on her rump

Big enough to be a hump -

[JACK]

But -

[JACK'S MOTHER]

We've no time to sit and dither,

While her withers wither with her

And no one keeps a cow for a friend!

Sometimes I wonder what's goin' on in that head of yours.

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

Into the woods,

It's time to go,

I hate to leave,

I have to, though.

Into the woods

It's time, and so

I must begin my journey.

Into the woods

And through the trees

To where I am

Expected ma'am,

Into the woods

To Grandmother's house -

Into the woods

To Grandmother's house -

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Now you're certain of your way?

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

The way is clear,

The light is good,

I have no fear,

Nor no one should.

The woods are just trees,

The trees are just wood.

I sort of hate to ask it,

But do you have a basket?

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Yes, we do.

[THE BAKER]

I don't suppose you're planning on buying any of these...

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Oh, shhhhh...

Now, don't stray and be late, alright?

[THE BAKER]

You might save some of those sweets for Granny?

Oh my...

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Just, leave it...

[THE BAKER]

She's a thief!

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

Into the woods

And down the dell,

The path is straight,

I know it well.

Into the woods,

And who can tell

What's waiting on the journey?

Into the woods

To bring some bread

To Granny who

Is sick in bed.

Never can tell

What lies ahead.

For all that I know,

She's already dead.

But into the woods,

Into the woods,

Into the woods

To Grandmother's house

And home before dark.

[FLORINDA]

Cinderella!

[LUCINDA]

Get up here!

[CINDERELLA]

Fly, birds,

Back to the sky...

[FLORINDA]

We're waiting!

[CINDERELLA]

Back to the eaves

And the leaves

And the fields

And the...

[FLORINDA]

Hurry up and do my hair, Cinderella!

Are you really wearing that?

[LUCINDA]

Here, I found a little tear, Cinderella.

Can't you hide it with a hat?

[CINDERELLA]

You look beautiful.

[FLORINDA]

I know.

[LUCINDA]

She means me.

[FLORINDA]

No she didn't.

[CINDERELLA]

Mother said be good,

Father said be nice,

That was always their advice.

So be nice, Cinderella,

Good, Cinderella,

Nice good good nice...

[FLORINDA]

Tighter!

[CINDERELLA]

What's the good of being good

If everyone is blind

Always leaving you behind?

Never mind, Cinderella,

Kind Cinderella

Nice good nice kind good nice -

[FLORINDA]

OW! Not that tight!

God!

[THE BAKER]

Who might that be?

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

We've sold our last loaf of bread!

[THE BAKER]

It's the witch from next-door.

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

We have no bread...

[THE WITCH]

I don't want your bread

[THE BAKER]

Then what is it you wish?

[THE WITCH]

It's not what I wish,

It's what you wish.

Nothing cooking in that belly now is there?

And there will never be,

Unless you do exactly as I say.

In three days time a blue-moon will appear,

Only then can the curse be, undone...

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

What curse?

[THE WITCH]

The one I placed on this house.

[THE BAKER]

What are you talking about?

[THE WITCH]

In the past, when you were no more than a babe,

Your father brought his young wife

and you to this cottage.

They were a lovely couple,

But not lovely neighbors.

You see...

Your mother was with child,

And she developed an unusual appetite.

She admired my beautiful garden,

And she told your father that

What she wanted more than anything,

In the world, was...

Greens, greens, nothing but greens:

Parsley, peppers, cabbages and celery,

Asparagus and watercress and

Fiddleferns and lettuce!

He said, "All right,"

But it wasn't, quite,

'Cause I caught him in the autumn

In my garden one night!

He was robbing me,

Raping me,

Rooting through my rutabaga,

Raiding my arugula and

Ripping up the rampion

My champion! My favorite!-

I should have laid a spell on him

Right there,

I could have turned him into stone

Or a dog...

Or a chair...

But I let him have the rampion

I'd lots to spare.

In return, however,

I said, "Fair is fair:

You can let me have the baby

That your wife will bear.

And we'll call it square."

[THE BAKER]

I had a brother?

[THE WITCH]

No. But, you had a sister.

[THE BAKER]

Where is she?

[THE WITCH]

She's mine now!

And you'll never find her,

Small price to pay for what

Else your father stole from me.

It cost me my youth, my beauty.

My mother warned me,

She would punish me

With the curse of ugliness,

If I ever lost any of them.

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Lost what?

[THE WITCH]

The beans...

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Beans?

[THE WITCH]

The special beans...

I'd let him go, I didn't know,

he'd stolen my beans.

I was watching him crawl,

Back over the wall!

Then bang! Crash!

A lightning flash!

Well, that's another story,

Never mind-

Anyway, at last

The big day came,

And I made my claim.

"Oh, don't take away the baby,"

They shrieked and screeched,

But I did,

And I hid her

Where she'll never be reached.

And your father cried,

And your mother died.

When for extra measure

I admit it was a pleasure

I said, "Sorry,

I'm still not mollified."

And I laid a little spell on them

You, too, son

That your family tree

Would always be a barren one...

[THE BAKER]

How could you do that?

[THE WITCH]

And when your mother died,

Your father deserted you.

Your father was no father so why should you be?

So there's no more fuss

And there's no more scenes

And my garden thrives -

You should see my nectarines!

But I'm telling you the same

I tell kings and queens:

Don't ever never ever

Mess around with my greens!

Especially the beans.

[JACK]

Yeah, but why do we have to go to the next village?

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Because, everyone in this village,

knows the cow hasn't given a drop of milk in weeks.

[JACK]

That's cheating!

[JACK'S MOTHER]

We're starving, Jack!

Don't you understand that?

Now, you're not to accept less than five pounds for her.

Are you listening to me?

[JACK]

Yes.

[JACK'S MOTHER]

How much are you to ask?

[JACK]

No more than five pounds.

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Less than five!

[JACK]

Than five!

[JACK'S MOTHER]

Into the woods,

The time is now,

We have to live,

I don't care how.

Into the woods to sell the cow,

You must begin the journey!

Straight to the woods

and don't delay

We have to face

The marketplace.

Into the woods to journey's end

[JACK]

Into the woods to sell a friend...

[THE WITCH]

You wish to have

The curse reversed?

I'll need a certain

Potion first.

Go to the woods and bring me back

One: the cow as white as milk,

Two: the cape as red as blood,

Three: the hair as yellow as corn,

Four: the slipper as pure as gold.

Bring me these

Before the chime

Of midnight,

In three day's time.

Tis' then the blue moon reappears.

Which comes but once each hundred years.

Just bring them and

I guarantee,

A child as perfect

As child can be.

Go to the wood!

[STEPMOTHER]

Ladies,

Our carriage waits.

[CINDERELLA]

Now may I go to the Festival?

[STEPMOTHER]

The Festival?

Darling, those nails!

Darling, those clothes!

Lentils are one thing but

Darling, with those,

You'd make us the fools of the Festival

And mortify the Prince!

[CINDERELLA]

The Festival lasts three nights.

Surely, you could let me be there for one of them.

[STEPMOTHER]

The King is trying to find his son a wife!

Not a scullery maid!

We must be gone!

GO!

[CINDERELLA]

I wish...

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Beans?

These must be the witch's beans!

We'll take them with us.

[THE BAKER]

We?

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Yes!

[THE BAKER]

We?

You're not coming,

It's not safe out there.

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

I can help you!

[THE BAKER]

No!

I can do this on my own.

The spell is on my house.

Only I can lift the spell,

The spell is on my house.

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

No, no, the spell is on our house.

We must lift the spell together,

The spell is on our house!

[THE BAKER]

Now tell me what am I to return with?

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Ugh, you don't remember?

The cow as white as milk,

The cape as red as blood,

The hair as yellow as corn,

The slipper as pure as gold

[THE BAKER]

The cow as white as milk,

The cape as red as blood,

The hair as yellow as corn,

The slipper as pure as gold...

[CINDERELLA]

I still wish to go to the Festival,

But how am I ever to get to the Festival?

[THE BAKER]

The cow as white as milk,

The cape as red as blood,

The hair as yellow as corn-

[CINDERELLA]

I know!

I'll visit Mother's grave,

The grave at the hazel tree,

And tell her I just want to

Go to the King's Festival...

[THE BAKER]

The slipper as pure as gold...

The cow, the cape,

The slipper as pure as gold-

[THE BAKER'S WIFE]

The hair!

[CINDERELLA & THE BAKER]

Into the woods,

It's time to go,

It may be all

In vain, you/I know.

Into the woods-

But even so,

I have to take the journey.

[CINDERELLA, THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Into the woods,

The path is straight,

You know it well,

But who can tell

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

Into the woods to lift the spell

[CINDERELLA]

Into the woods to visit Mother

[JACK'S MOM]

Into the woods to sell the cow!

[JACK]

To get the money!

[CINDERELLA]

To go to the Festival!

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]

Into the woods to grandmother's house!

[ALL]

The way is clear,

The light is good,

I have no fear,

Nor no one should.

The woods are just trees,

The trees are just wood.

No need to be afraid there-

[THE BAKER]

There's something in the glade there...

[ALL]

Into the woods,

Without delay,

But careful not

To lose the way.

Into the woods,

Who knows what may

Be lurking on the journey?

Into the woods

To get the thing

That makes it worth

The journeying.

into the woods

[STEPMOTHER & STEPSISTERS]

To see the King

[JACK & MOTHER]

To sell the cow

[THE BAKER & THE BAKER'S WIFE]

To make the potion

[ALL]

To see

To sell

To get

To bring

To make

To lift

To go to the Festival!

Into the woods!

Into the woods!

Into the woods,

Then out of the woods,

And home before dark!