Defying Gravity Lyrics by the Wicked Cast
[GLINDA, spoken]
Elphaba
Why couldn't you have stayed calm for once
Instead of flying off the handle?
I hope you’re happy
[GLINDA]
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you’ve hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever
[ELPHABA, spoken]
I hope you're happy
[ELPHABA]
I hope you're happy too
I hope you're proud how you would
Grovel in submission to feed your own ambition
[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
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
[GLINDA]
You can still be with the Wizard
What you’ve worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wantеd
[ELPHABA, spoken]
I know
[ELPHABA]
But I don’t want it
No, I can't want it anymore
Something has changed within mе
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
You're having delusions of grandeur?
[ELPHABA]
I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'til 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
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Come with me
Think of what we could do together
[ELPHABA]
Unlimited
Together, we're unlimited
Together, we'll be the greatest team there's ever been, Glinda
Dreams the way we planned 'em
[GLINDA]
If we work in tandem
[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
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
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Are you coming?
[GLINDA]
I hope you're happy
Now that you're choosing this
[ELPHABA, spoken]
You, too
[ELPHABA]
I hope it brings you bliss
[GLINDA & ELPHABA]
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend
[ELPHABA, spoken]
No, leave her alone!
She hasn't done anything wrong
I'm the one you want
I'm the one you want!
It's me!
[ELPHABA]
It's me
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately
"Everyone 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'm defying gravity
I'm flying high, defying gravity
And soon, I'll match them in renown
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited, oh
[ELPHABA, spoken]
Nobody in all of Oz
[ELPHABA]
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!
Kill her!
[CITIZENS OF OZ & ELPHABA]
No one mourns the wicked (Bring me down)
So we've got to bring her
[ELPHABA]
Oh
[CITIZENS OF OZ]
Down
Down
Woah
About the Song: Defying Gravity by the Wicked Cast
Defying Gravity is one, if not the most popular song in Wicked. It was originally sung by Broadway legends Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who were the original casts of Elphaba and Glinda respectively in the Broadway version of Wicked. Cynthia Erivo recorded the song featuring Ariana Grande for the movie Wicked where they played Elphaba and Glinda respectively.
Defying Gravity is one of the most popular songs from a Broadway musical and any theater kid or Broadway fan would know this song. If you need a song for your karaoke night that will empower you while belting that high note, this is the perfect song.
A Deeper Dive Into the Song Defying Gravity
The song Defying Gravity served as Elphaba’s awakening and empowerment. This is the part in the movie where Elphaba realizes that the Wizard of Oz whom she looks up to isn’t the hero that he portrays to be. The song serves as Elphaba and Glinda’s bickering where they both try to persuade the other to join them, however, they both decide to go their separate ways in the end and wish each other happiness.
Defying Gravity also features Elphaba’s famous battle cry at the end after she announces that no one can bring her down. The famous high note in the end (which both Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo nails, by the way) is done while Elphaba rides on her broom and levitates.
In the Broadway play, Defying Gravity serves as the end of Act I while in the movie, it serves as the finale song.