I Rise Again

(spoken) Traitors! Look at the two of you: Judas Iscariot and his sister Sue
You think I'm finished? They all think I'm finished. Just because I've had a failure...
all right, four failures. But what glorious ones!
The burning of Joan of Arc in "The French Girl" was the most transcendant
theatrical experience since "The Magic Fire" scene in "Die Walkuere"! Let me enemies gloat.
Let them kick me when I'm down... but every time they think I'm through…

I rise again
Full size again
And give those doubting Thomases a walloping surprise again!
I sneer at them
I jeer at them
I thumb my nose and bite my thumb and bare my royal rear at them!
With my back up against the wall
With the wolves yapping at my heels
With the noose tightening ‘round my neck
That's the time I know how living really feels.

With the wall up against my back
With the water rising to my chin
Chained and bound tight inside a sack
That's the plight that I'm delighted in!
For I have powers like Aladdin's Genie did
I do escape tricks better than Houdini did
In the black of my cul-de-sac
Do I crack and fall? No – I attack!
With my back up against the wall.

Listen boss, you've got to use your brain
Everyone you owe will meet the train.

I Shine again
All is mine again
A fighter rising from the canvas at the count of nine.

Nine? The count is ten!
You're out! The drums of doom are knocking
Your theatre and your offices
The bankers will be locking.

I spit at them
Spray flit at them
I'll face those grim Goliaths with my sling shot
And I'll hit at them
With my back up against the wall
Angry birds pecking with their beaks
Or submerged, sealed inside a tomb
That challenge brings the roses to my cheeks
So rally 'round me now, my musketeering men
We'll turn that raging lynch mob into cheering men!
From the false reports of my demise
Like the phoenix right before their eyes
With my back up against the wall
With his back up against the wall
With his back up against the wall
I rise again!
I (He'll) rise again!