Music Video
Trial Before Pilate
Trial Before Pilate Lyrics
Trial Before Pilate Song Lyrics
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 have 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 no kingdom in this world.
I'm through.
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere.
If you only knew.
PILATE
Then you are a king?
JESUS
It's you that say I am.
I look for truth and find that I get damned.
PILATE
But what is truth?
Is truth a changing law?
We both have truths.
Are mine the same as yours?
MOB
Crucify him! 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!
Crucify him!
PILATE
What is this new respect for Caesar?
'Till now this has been noticeably lacking.
Who is this Jesus? Why is he different?
You Jews produce Messiahs by the sackfull.
MOB
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.
Look at your Jesus Christ.
I'll agree he's mad.
Ought to be locked up,
But that is not a reason to destroy him.
He's a sad little man.
Not a King or God.
Not a thief,
I need a crime!
MOB
Crucify him!
PILATE
Behold a man,
Behold your shattered King.
MOB
We have no King but Caesar.
PILATE
You hypocrites,
You hate us more than him.
MOB
We have no King but Caesar,
Crucify 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! Crucify him!
(Thirty-nine lashes, Pilate counts)
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 hold 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!
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!
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 self-destruction.
Die if you want to, you misguided martyr.
I wash my hands of your demolition.
Die if you want to you innocent puppet!
May, 07th 2014
"Trial Before Pilate" in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" presents a drsmatic and intense interaction between Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ, encapsulating themes of power, truth, and destiny. The scene portrays Pilate’s struggle to understand Jesus and the charged political atmosphere that surrounds Jesus's trial.
The song opens with Pilate expressing surprise at Jesus's return following Herod's disnissal. Caiaphas insists on Jesus’s crucifixion, highlighting the religious leaders' dependence on Roman authority to execute their plan. Pilate, initially, is curious and somewhat disbelieving about Jesus’s identity and intentions. His questioning, “Do you have the first idea why you deserve it?” and “Where is your kingdom?” reflect both his skepticism and an attempt to understand Jesus's claim to kingship.
Jesus’s response, “I have no kingdom in this world,” and “It's you that say I am,” points to a kingdom beyond the worldly realm and implies that the title of 'king' is a label imposed by others. Pilate’s philosophical musing, “What is truth?” highlights the subjective nature of truth, revealing his own uncertainty in handling the situation.
As the mob cries for crucifixion, Pilate’s astonishment at their sudden loyalty to Caesar indicates a deeper understanding of the political manipulation at play. Despite recognizing Jesus’s innocence, “He’s done no wrong,” Pilate is trapped by the political pressure and public demand, which is further intensified by threats to his position and reminders of his duty to Caesar.
Pilate's frustration is evident as he declares Jesus a “sad little man,” expressing his inability to find a legitimate reason for punishment. Yet, under the relentless demand of the crowd, he reluctantly agrees to flog Jesus, showcasing his struggle between personal judgment and political expediency.
Jesus's calm and assertive statement, “You have nothing in your hands,” challenges Pilate’s authority, suggesting that true power lies beyond human control. This idea of predetermined fate is further emphasized by Jesus’s remark, “Everything is fixed, and you can't change it,” indicating a larger, cosmic plan at work.
Pilate's final decision to wash his hands of the matter, “I wash my hands of your demolition,” signifies his surrender to external pressures and his refusal to take responsibility for Jesus’s fate, leaving Jesus to his tragic end.
"Trial Before Pilate" is thus a complex exploration of power dynamics, moral conflict, and the inevitable course of destiny, set against the backdrop of one of history’s most pivotal trials.
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