Jesus Christ Superstar Trial Before Pilate

In the 1970s, an opera about Jesus of Nazareth helped blaze the trail between rock ‘n roll and musical theater. Though Jesus Christ Superstar's radical songs divided religious groups, they conquered the Billboard charts. The show also ushered in Broadway’s “British invasion” of the 1970s and 1980s, setting the stage for such mega-hits as Cats and Les Miserables.

Lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who met in 1965 when they were 20 and 17, respectively, enjoyed their first taste of shared success with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1968. Next, the duo focused on another Biblical figure: Jesus of Nazareth. The pair envisioned a daring new rock musical that would retell—from Judas’s perspective—the story of Christ’s betrayal and execution. But Lloyd Webber and Rice couldn’t find anyone who was willing to produce the project as a stage show—Lloyd Webber recalled that they were told it was "the worst idea in history." So they transformed it into an 87-minute, two-disc concept album instead; it was released in 1970.

[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 a 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
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[MOB]
Talk to me, Jesus Christ

[JESUS]
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 unchanging 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]
Well this is 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 sack full

[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 there 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, 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!
Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify him! Crucify him! 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, 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