Trial Before Pilate
Andrew Lloyd Webber · Jesus Christ Superstar [1971]
Pilate:
And so the king is once again my guest
And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?
Caiaphas:
We turn to Rome to sentence Nazareth
We have no law to put a man to death
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do
Pilate:
Talk to me Jesus Christ
You've been brought here - manacled, beaten
By your own people - do you have the first idea
why you deserve it?
Listen king of the Jews
Where is your kingdom?
Look at me - am I a Jew?
Jesus:
I have got no kingdom in this world -
I'm through, through, through
Mob:
Talk to me Jesus Christ
Jesus:
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere - if I only knew
Pilate:
Then you're a king?
Jesus:
It's you who say I am
I look for truth and find that I get damned
Pilate:
But what is truth? Is truth unchanging law?
We both have truths - are mine the same as yours?
Mob:
Crucify him!
Pilate:
What do you mean? You'd crucify your king?
Mob:
We have no king but Caesar!
Pilate:
He's done no wrong - no not the slightest thing
Mob:
We have no king but Caesar! Crusify him!
Pilate:
I see no reason - I find no evil
This man is harmless so why does he upset you?
He's just misguided - thinks he's important
But to keep you vultures happy I shall flog him
Mob:
Crucify him!
THIRTY-NINE LASHES
Pilate:
Where are you from Jesus? What do you want Jesus? Tell me
You've got to be careful - you could be dead soon -
could well be
Why do you not speak when I have your life in my hands?
How can you stay quiet? I don't believe you understand
Jesus:
You have nothing in your hands
Any power you have comes to you from far beyond
Everything is fixed and you can't change it
Pilate:
You're a fool Jesus Christ - how can I help you?
Mob:
Pilate! Crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you have a duty
To keep the peace so crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!
Pilate:
Don't let me stop your great selfdestruction
Die if you want to you misguided martyr
I wash my hands of your demolition
Die if you want to you innocent puppet!
And so the king is once again my guest
And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?
Caiaphas:
We turn to Rome to sentence Nazareth
We have no law to put a man to death
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do
Pilate:
Talk to me Jesus Christ
You've been brought here - manacled, beaten
By your own people - do you have the first idea
why you deserve it?
Listen king of the Jews
Where is your kingdom?
Look at me - am I a Jew?
Jesus:
I have got no kingdom in this world -
I'm through, through, through
Mob:
Talk to me Jesus Christ
Jesus:
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere - if I only knew
Pilate:
Then you're a king?
Jesus:
It's you who say I am
I look for truth and find that I get damned
Pilate:
But what is truth? Is truth unchanging law?
We both have truths - are mine the same as yours?
Mob:
Crucify him!
Pilate:
What do you mean? You'd crucify your king?
Mob:
We have no king but Caesar!
Pilate:
He's done no wrong - no not the slightest thing
Mob:
We have no king but Caesar! Crusify him!
Pilate:
I see no reason - I find no evil
This man is harmless so why does he upset you?
He's just misguided - thinks he's important
But to keep you vultures happy I shall flog him
Mob:
Crucify him!
THIRTY-NINE LASHES
Pilate:
Where are you from Jesus? What do you want Jesus? Tell me
You've got to be careful - you could be dead soon -
could well be
Why do you not speak when I have your life in my hands?
How can you stay quiet? I don't believe you understand
Jesus:
You have nothing in your hands
Any power you have comes to you from far beyond
Everything is fixed and you can't change it
Pilate:
You're a fool Jesus Christ - how can I help you?
Mob:
Pilate! Crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you have a duty
To keep the peace so crucify him!
Remember Caesar - you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!
Pilate:
Don't let me stop your great selfdestruction
Die if you want to you misguided martyr
I wash my hands of your demolition
Die if you want to you innocent puppet!