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.
Lament
Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The choice was mine, and mine completely
I could have any prize that I desired
I could burn with the splendor of the brightest fire
Or else, or else I could choose time
Remember I was very young then
And a year was forever and a day
I saw the lights, and I was on my way
And how I lived, how they shone
But how soon the lights were gone
(Che:)
The choice was yours and noone else's
You can cry for a body in despair
Hang your head because she is no longer there
To shine, to dazzle, or betray
How she lived, how she shone
But how soon the lights were gone
(Embalmers:)
Eyes, hair, face, image
All must be preserved
Still life displayed forever
No less than she deserved.
The song Lament from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Evita" is a poignant dialogue between Eva Perón and Che Guevara, two characters with opposing ideologies. The song explores the choices that each character made in their life and the consequences that followed. Eva, who is gravely ill, reflects on her past decisions, acknowledging that she could have had anything she desired, including fame, fortune, and power. However, she chose time, implying that she wanted to live her life to the fullest, regardless of how short it may be. She reminisces about the lights and the splendor that once surrounded her but admits that they were fleeting and did not bring her lasting happiness.
On the other hand, Che, who seems to represent the voice of reason and reality, reminds Eva of the consequences of her choices. He tells her that the choice was hers and hers alone and that now, she is paying the price for her decisions. He acknowledges her achievements but also points out that her light has faded, and she is no longer the enchanting figure she once was. The embalmers in the song represent the idea of preserving the memory of Eva, ensuring that her beauty and image are frozen in time, almost as a way of denying her mortality. The song is a beautiful representation of the cost of ambition and the realization that fame and power are not always what they seem.
Line by Line Meaning
The choice was mine, and mine completely
I was the one who had complete control over my life and the decisions I made.
I could have any prize that I desired
I had the freedom to choose whatever I wanted and pursue it.
I could burn with the splendor of the brightest fire
I had the potential to shine and achieve greatness.
Or else, or else I could choose time
Alternatively, I could opt for a simpler, quieter life that valued time over fame.
Remember I was very young then
I was young and inexperienced when I made these choices.
And a year was forever and a day
At that age, a year seemed like an incredibly long period of time.
So what use could fifty, sixty, seventy be?
I couldn't fathom the value or purpose of living into old age at that time.
I saw the lights, and I was on my way
I was drawn to the excitement and opportunities presented by fame and fortune.
And how I lived, how they shone
I lived my life to the fullest and basked in the glow of success.
But how soon the lights were gone
However, that success was fleeting, and I realized that what I had achieved was only temporary.
The choice was yours and no one else's
You were ultimately responsible for your own decisions and their consequences.
You can cry for a body in despair
You can grieve for someone who has passed away, feeling deep sadness and hopelessness.
Hang your head because she is no longer there
You feel a sense of loss and defeat because the person you admired is now gone.
To shine, to dazzle, or betray
They had the option to stand out and make a name for themselves, but also had the potential to hurt others in the process.
Eyes, hair, face, image
The embalmers must preserve all visible aspects of the deceased person's physical appearance.
All must be preserved
It is essential that nothing is lost or altered in the process of embalming.
Still life displayed forever
The preserved remains of the deceased will be put on permanent display.
No less than she deserved.
The deceased deserves to be honored and remembered in this way.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind