His awards include seven Tonys, three Grammys including Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem, seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, two International Emmys, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, a BASCA Fellowship and the Kennedy Center Honor.
He currently owns six London theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Palladium.
Damned for All Time / Blood Money
Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now if I help you, it matters that you see
These sordid kinda things are coming hard to me.
It's taken me some time to work out what to do.
I weighed the whole thing out before I came to you.
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
I came because I had to; I'm the one who saw.
Jesus can't control it like he did before.
And furthermore I know that Jesus thinks so too.
Jesus wouldn't mind that I was here with you.
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm ... damned for all time.
Annas, you're a friend, a worldly man and wise.
Caiaphas, my friend, I know you sympathise.
Why are we the prophets? Why are we the ones
Who see the sad solution - know what must be done?
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm damned for all time.
ANNAS
Cut the protesting, forget the excuses.
We want information. Get up of the floor.
CAIAPHAS
We have the papers we need to arrest him.
You know his movements. We know the law.
ANNAS
Your help in this matter won't go unrewarded.
CAIAPHAS
We'll pay you in silver, cash on the nail.
We just need to know where the soldiers can find him.
ANNAS
With no crowd around him.
CAIAPHAS
Then we can't fail.
JUDAS
I don't want your blood money!
CAIAPHAS
Oh, that doesn't matter, our expenses are good.
JUDAS
I don't need your blood money!
ANNAS
But you might as well take it. We think that you should.
CAIAPHAS
Think of the things you could do with that money,
Choose any charity - give to the poor.
We've noted your motives.
We've noted your feelings.
This isn't blood money - it's a ...
ANNAS
A fee.
CAIAPHAS
A fee nothing more.
JUDAS
On Thursday night you'll find him where you want him.
Far from the crowds, in the Garden of Gethsemane.
CHOIR
Well done Judas. Good old Judas.
In "Damned for All Time/Blood Money," Judas is conflicted about his role in Jesus' betrayal, but ultimately decides to go through with it. He starts by explaining that he didn't come to the priests out of personal interest or for any reward, but rather because he had to. He believes that Jesus can no longer control the situation as he did before, and that Jesus wouldn't mind Judas being there with him. Judas then pleads with Annas and Caiaphas, the chief priests, not to damn him for all time for his actions.
Annas and Caiaphas pressure Judas for information about Jesus' whereabouts, and Judas eventually reveals that they can find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on Thursday night. The priests offer Judas blood money for his help, but he initially refuses it. However, they persuade him to take it by saying that he can use the money for a charitable cause, and that it's just a fee for his services. The choir then sings praise for Judas, calling him "Good old Judas."
Line by Line Meaning
Now if I help you, it matters that you see
I need you to see what I'm doing for you.
These sordid kinda things are coming hard to me.
It's difficult for me to do these controversial things.
It's taken me some time to work out what to do.
I've spent a lot of time deciding how to proceed.
I weighed the whole thing out before I came to you.
I considered all of my options before coming to you.
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I don't care about getting anything from this.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
I didn't choose to be here.
Just don't say I'm ... damned for all time.
Please don't judge me harshly for this.
Jesus can't control it like he did before.
Jesus can't stop what's going to happen.
And furthermore I know that Jesus thinks so too.
I believe that Jesus understands why I'm doing this.
Annas, you're a friend, a worldly man and wise.
Annas, I trust you and respect your opinion.
Caiaphas, my friend, I know you sympathise.
Caiaphas, I appreciate your support.
Why are we the prophets? Why are we the ones
Who see the sad solution - know what must be done?
Why do we have to be the ones who make the tough decisions?
Cut the protesting, forget the excuses.
Stop making excuses and give us the information we need.
We want information. Get up of the floor.
Tell us what we need to know and stop lying down.
We have the papers we need to arrest him.
We have the legal documentation necessary to arrest Jesus.
You know his movements. We know the law.
Tell us where Jesus is going to be and we'll handle the legal part.
Your help in this matter won't go unrewarded.
We'll compensate you for your assistance.
We'll pay you in silver, cash on the nail.
We'll give you silver coins immediately.
I don't want your blood money!
I don't want to be paid for turning in Jesus.
But you might as well take it. We think that you should.
You might as well accept the payment, it's what we think is fair.
Think of the things you could do with that money,
Choose any charity - give to the poor.
You could use the money for good causes, like helping the less fortunate.
We've noted your motives.
We understand why you're doing this.
We've noted your feelings.
We know how you feel and we sympathize.
This isn't blood money - it's a ...
This payment is not immoral or unethical.
A fee.
It's just compensation for your services.
On Thursday night you'll find him where you want him.
Far from the crowds, in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus will be alone in the Garden of Gethsemane on Thursday night.
Well done Judas. Good old Judas.
Ironically praising Judas for betraying Jesus.
Contributed by Bailey S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.