Prologue Lyrics

Jorge Rivera-Herrans

About “Prologue”

Prologue is the opening track from Jorge Rivera-Herrans' musical, My Heart Says Go, which delves into the internal struggle of Indigo, a young cardiology student who is grappling with his true passion for music versus the expectations set by his family and society. The song introduces Indigo's dilemma, setting the stage for the narrative that follows in the musical.

Album: My Heart Says Go
Release Date: May 5, 2023
Producers: Matt Hawkins, Jorge Rivera-Herrans, Geoffrey Ko, Christopher Sepulveda
Featuring: Rubén J. Carbajal, John Cardoza
Genre: Pop, Rap, Musical Theatre

Song Meanings Explained.

In Prologue, Indigo is introduced as a character caught between two worlds: his current life as a medical student and his deep-seated desire to pursue a career in music. The song portrays his anxiety and doubt as he questions whether being a doctor is truly what he wants, or if he should follow his passion for songwriting. The lyrics explore his internal conflict, the pressure he feels from societal expectations, and his love for music.

[Verse 1]

Indigo begins by expressing how his mind is constantly racing, distracted by thoughts of whether the path he’s on is the right one. He’s about to assist in a critical heart surgery, but his mind is elsewhere, contemplating if he’s made the right life choices. This verse highlights the disconnect between his professional life and his true passions, as he questions his decision to study cardiology.

[Chorus]

The chorus reflects Indigo’s struggle to reconcile his current path with his passion for music. He feels the weight of the expectations placed on him but is also acutely aware of his love for music, which continues to pull at him. The repetition of "What does my heart say?" underscores the central theme of the musical, as Indigo grapples with following his heart versus fulfilling his obligations.

[Verse 2]

In the second verse, Indigo delves deeper into his love for music, discussing the joy it brings him and the complexities he enjoys exploring within it. Despite his current path in medicine, his heart clearly lies with music, leading to a growing dissatisfaction with his life as it is. His frustrations are compounded by the expectations from his father, who has pushed him towards a stable, yet unfulfilling career.

[Bridge]

The bridge of the song captures Indigo’s internal dialogue as he tries to convince himself to focus on his studies and succeed in his medical career. However, the constant pull of his passion for music makes this difficult, and the repetition of "How do I deal with the pressure?" shows the intense conflict he feels as he tries to meet both his own desires and the expectations of others.

Song Theme.

The primary theme of Prologue is the conflict between societal expectations and personal passion. Indigo is a character who feels trapped by the expectations placed on him by his family and society, yet he yearns to follow his true passion for music. The song explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the pressure to conform to a predetermined path. It sets the tone for the rest of the musical, where Indigo will continue to wrestle with these conflicting desires.

Technical Analysis.

Musically, Prologue blends elements of rap, pop, and musical theatre, reflecting the modern and youthful energy of the protagonist. The song's structure mirrors Indigo's chaotic thoughts, with rapid shifts between introspective verses and a more melodic chorus. The use of a conversational tone in the lyrics, combined with rhythmic shifts and varying tempos, effectively conveys Indigo's inner turmoil. The instrumentation supports this with a driving beat that mirrors the urgency of Indigo’s thoughts, while softer, more melodic sections highlight his moments of introspection and doubt.

Prologue Song Lyrics

Prologue by Jorge Rivera-Herrans

[INDIGO]
My body's here but my mind is out there
It's somewhere racing
I spend a lot of time tryna get to this time and place
Today is basically the biggest day of my life
I get to help in saving this guy

He suffers from some nearly fatal form of pericardial heart desease
And we're supposed to operate
But I can't concentrate
I only contemplate

Damn, is this what I want?
Is this right?
What the hell am I doing with my life?

I study cardiology but I don't know the matters of the heart
Placed out of pace
Syncing pace from the start
And now I'm in doubt 'bout the route I take
What does my heart say?

In my heart
There's a melody
But I can't hear it clearly
It appears to steer me
When times are severe like here
There's something truly daunting and haunting
About wanting to be a doctor
Guarding someone's life in your hands
The life of another man
To be literally the last stand
Between this man
And God's plan

His heartbeet fleets
And that's when the pressure kicks
My gut becomes sick
This moment, this tick
Makes me wish and fantasize
Myself in another life
What if I chased the dreams that I wanted this whole time?

My pop says
This job is a long-term provider
And I like my job
But I wanted to be a songwriter

Music
I love music
I love the many effects it has
Depending on how you choose to use it
It could be amusing or therapeutic
It's oozing with treasures to be discovered
It's pleasure for me I love it
Check this out
This is a regression line
Every hit song since '79
And all day long this is on my mind
There's so much information
From tempo, to key changes
Chord progressions, so many lessons!

For example
Did you know if you take the key of a song up
Everything gets more exciting
The song gets more enticing
Feels like it's rising

And if you take it back down
I don't really know what that does yet
Some people get upset

Anyways, there's nothing that can contest
With the dopamine that comes over me
When I hear a dope rhyme scheme
And it's dope, I mean
Every line seems to convey a sacred promise

To the next
It's the best
Every day at any moment
I'm hit with a wave or serotonin
Flows sicker than the patients that I know here
So here's a-
This job sucks, I hate this job
I really fricking hate this job
And there's no one on the mother-loving face of the planet
To make me say 'Thanks for this job'
Only reason I have this job
Father told me to get this job
Demanded I land a solitarian life in med school
To be granted monetary advancements

I don't think it's all about the money
And it's kind of funny
I think everybody's got a hobby that they love
And when I think about it
Every time I step up in the operatin'
All I really wanna do is sing and write songs

Yes, I'm depressed, I confess
Incessantly pressed for success
But success should be self-defined
So where do I draw the line?

[INDIGO, BACKING VOCALS, TOGETHER]
Imagine having the mental capacity
Only to question the lessons you've learned
Learned
If you're not messing your lessons
You're lessening how much you sleep when you burn
Burn
Look how the tables have turned
Turned
This only leads to stress
Stress
You need to get your ass to class and pass the test
Test
Yes, I'll be the best of the best
Do not succumb to the stress
You must impress
Teach yourself how to finesse
Learn to survive without rest
Unless
You're going to manage your time
But all I can think of are lyrics and rhymes
How do I deal with the pressure?
How do I deal with the pressure?

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