On The Steps Of The Palace
Into the Woods Lyrics


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Cinderella
He's a very smart Prince,
He's a Prince who prepares.
Knowing this time I'd run from him,
He spread pitch on the stairs.
I was caught unawares.
And I thought: well, he cares-
This is more than just malice.
Better stop and take stock
While you're standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace.

You think, what do you want?
You think, make a decision.
Why not stay and be caught?
You think, well, it's a thought,
What would be his response?
But then what if he knew
Who you were when you know
That you're not what he thinks
That he wants?

And then what if you are?
What a Prince would envision?
Although how can you know
Who you are till you know
What you want, which you don't?
So then which do you pick:
Where you're safe, out of sight,
And yourself, but where everything's wrong?
Or where everything's right
And you know that you'll never belong?

And whichever you pick,
Do it quick,
'Cause you're starting to stick
To the steps of the palace.

It's your first big decision,
The choice isn't easy to make.
To arrive at a ball
Is exciting and all-
Once you're there, though, it's scary.
And it's fun to deceive
When you know you can leave,
But you have to be wary.
There's a lot that's at stake,
But you've stalled long enough,
'Cause you're still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps...

Better run along home
And avoid the collision.
Even though they don't care,
You'll be better of there
Where there's nothing to choose,
So there's nothing to lose.
So you pry up your shoes.
Then from out of the blue,
And without any guide,
You know what your decision is,
Which is not to decide.
You'll leave him a clue:
For example, a shoe.
And then see what he'll do.

Now it's he and not you
Who is stuck with a shoe,
In a stew, in the goo,
And you've learned something, too,




Something you never knew,
On the steps of the palace.

Overall Meaning

The song "On the Steps of the Palace" is a solo sung by Cinderella in the musical "Into the Woods." In the song, Cinderella is on the steps of the palace where she has fled after leaving a shoe behind at the ball. She is thinking and reflecting about the conflicting desires in her heart. She doesn't want to be caught by the Prince, but at the same time, she is uncertain about what she wants as an individual. She talks herself through the decision-making process, questioning whether she wants to stay safe or venture out of her comfort zone. She ultimately decides to leave the shoe as a clue and see what the Prince does, rather than making a decision herself.


The lyrics of the song are quite poetic and use metaphor, such as the sticky pitch on the steps of the palace serving as a symbol for the stickiness of Cinderella's indecision. The song is also cleverly written with a rhyme scheme that gives the song a fun and playful quality, despite the serious nature of Cinderella's inner turmoil.


Line by Line Meaning

He's a very smart Prince,
Cinderella talks about the Prince and how intelligent he is.


He's a Prince who prepares.
Cinderella describes how the Prince plans everything out in advance.


Knowing this time I'd run from him,
Cinderella thinks that she will have to run away from the Prince again.


He spread pitch on the stairs.
The Prince sets a trap for Cinderella using pitch on the stairs.


I was caught unawares.
Cinderella doesn't expect the trap and falls for it.


And I thought: well, he cares-
Cinderella thinks that the Prince had a reason to trap her and that he cares for her.


This is more than just malice.
Cinderella concludes that the Prince did this to her for some reason other than malice.


Better stop and take stock
Cinderella realizes that she needs to stop and think about what she wants.


While you're standing here stuck
Cinderella is stuck on the steps of the palace and can't move forward.


On the steps of the palace.
Cinderella is contemplating her future while being stuck on the steps of the palace.


You think, what do you want?
Cinderella questions herself about what she really wants from life.


You think, make a decision.
Cinderella urges herself to make a decision about her future.


Why not stay and be caught?
Cinderella considers staying and being caught by the Prince.


You think, well, it's a thought,
Cinderella considers the idea of staying with the Prince.


What would be his response?
Cinderella wonders what the Prince's reaction would be if she stays with him.


But then what if he knew
Cinderella wonders what would happen if the Prince finds out who she really is.


Who you were when you know
Cinderella realizes that the Prince has no idea who she really is.


That you're not what he thinks
Cinderella is not what the Prince thinks she is.


That he wants?
Cinderella questions whether the Prince really wants her or not.


And then what if you are?
Cinderella wonders what would happen if she is what the Prince envisions.


What a Prince would envision?
Cinderella questions what exactly the Prince envisions in his future wife.


Although how can you know
Cinderella is unsure of how she can know what the Prince really wants in a wife.


Who you are till you know
Cinderella realizes that she needs to know who she really is before she can make any decisions.


What you want, which you don't?
Cinderella doesn't really know what she wants from life.


So then which do you pick:
Cinderella is torn between two choices.


Where you're safe, out of sight,
Cinderella can choose to stay hidden and safe, but she won't be happy.


And yourself, but where everything's wrong?
Cinderella can choose to be herself, but everything else around her will be wrong.


Or where everything's right
Cinderella can choose to have everything be right in her life.


And you know that you'll never belong?
Cinderella knows that she can never truly belong to the Prince's world.


And whichever you pick,
Cinderella knows that whichever choice she makes will have consequences.


Do it quick,
Cinderella needs to make a decision quickly.


'Cause you're starting to stick
Cinderella is getting stuck to the steps of the palace and needs to move on.


To the steps of the palace.
Cinderella is still on the steps of the palace, contemplating her future.


It's your first big decision,
Cinderella knows that this is one of the biggest decisions of her life.


The choice isn't easy to make.
Cinderella understands that this is not an easy choice to make.


To arrive at a ball
Cinderella is excited to be going to the ball.


Is exciting and all-
Cinderella is thrilled by the idea of going to the ball.


Once you're there, though, it's scary.
Cinderella realizes that being at the ball is scary and overwhelming.


And it's fun to deceive
Cinderella enjoys deceiving others at the ball.


When you know you can leave,
Cinderella likes the idea that she can leave the ball anytime she wants.


But you have to be wary.
Cinderella knows that she needs to be cautious while at the ball.


There's a lot that's at stake,
Cinderella knows that there is a lot riding on her being at the ball.


But you've stalled long enough,
Cinderella realizes that she has been stalling for far too long.


'Cause you're still standing stuck
Cinderella is still stuck on the steps of the palace and hasn't made a decision yet.


In the stuff on the steps...
Cinderella is stuck in something on the steps of the palace.


Better run along home
Cinderella decides to go back home.


And avoid the collision.
Cinderella wants to avoid any kind of confrontation or conflict.


Even though they don't care,
Cinderella knows that nobody else really cares about her decisions.


You'll be better of there
Cinderella thinks that she will be better off at home.


Where there's nothing to choose,
Cinderella knows that there is nothing for her to choose from at home.


So there's nothing to lose.
Cinderella knows that there is nothing for her to lose by going back home.


So you pry up your shoes.
Cinderella is getting ready to leave the palace.


Then from out of the blue,
Suddenly, something happens unexpectedly.


And without any guide,
Cinderella has no idea what to do.


You know what your decision is,
Cinderella suddenly knows what decision she wants to make.


Which is not to decide.
Cinderella doesn't want to make a decision.


You'll leave him a clue:
Cinderella decides to leave a clue behind for the Prince to find.


For example, a shoe.
Cinderella decides to leave one of her shoes behind as a clue.


And then see what he'll do.
Cinderella is curious to see how the Prince will react to finding the clue.


Now it's he and not you
Cinderella has put the ball in the Prince's court.


Who is stuck with a shoe,
Now the Prince is the one who is stuck with Cinderella's shoe.


In a stew, in the goo,
The Prince is in a difficult situation trying to figure out what to do with the shoe.


And you've learned something, too,
Cinderella has learned something from the whole experience.


Something you never knew,
Cinderella has discovered something new about herself.


On the steps of the palace.
All of this has happened while Cinderella was still on the steps of the palace.




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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

M & O Producciones

He's a very smart Prince
He's a Prince who prepares
Knowing this time I'd run from him
He spread pitch on the stairs
I was caught unawares

And I thought, well, he cares
This is more than just malice
Better stop and take stock
While you're standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace

You think, what do you want?
You think, make a decision
Why not stay and be caught?
You think, well it's a thought
What would be his response?
But then what if he knew
Who you were when you know
That you're not what he thinks
That he wants?

And then what if you are
What a Prince would envision?
Although how can you know
Who you are 'til you know
What you want, which you don't?
So then which do you pick
Where you're safe out of sight
And yourself, but where everything's wrong?
Or where everything's right
And you know that you'll never belong?

And whichever you pick
Do it quick
'Cause you're starting to stick
To the steps of the palace

It's your first big decision
The choice isn't easy to make
To arrive at a Ball is exciting and all
Once you're there, though, it's scary
And it's fun to deceive
When you know you can leave
But you have to be wary
There's a lot that's at stake
But you've stalled long enough
'Cause you're still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps

Better run along home
And avoid the collision
Even though they don't care
You'll be better off there
Where there's nothing to choose
So there's nothing to lose
So you pry up your shoes

Then from out of the blue
And without any guide
You know what your decision is
Which is not to decide

You'll just leave him a clue
For example, a shoe
And then see what he'll do

Now it's he and not you
Who is stuck with the shoe
In a stew
In the goo
And you've learned something, too
Something you never knew
On the steps of the Palace



Hernan Ladera

On the Steps of the Palace

He's a very smart Prince
He's a Prince who prepares
Knowing this time I'd run from him
He spread pitch on the stairs
And I'm caught unawares
Well it means that, he cares

This is more than just malice
Better stop and take stock
While you're standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace

All right, what do you want?
Have to make a decision
Why not stay and be caught?
Should I give that a thought
What would be his response?

But then what if he knew
Who I am when I know
That I'm not what he thinks
That he wants?
Or, then, what if I am?

What a Prince would envision?
But then how can you know
Who you are 'til you know
What you want? Which I don't
So then which do you pick
Where you're safe, out of sight
And yourself, but where everything's wrong?

Or where everything's right
But you know that you'll never belong?
And whichever you pick
Do it quick
'Cause you're starting to stick
To the steps of the palace

It's my first big decision
The choice isn't easy to make
To arrive at a ball
Is exciting and all
Once you're there, though, it's scary

And it's fun to deceive
When you know you can leave
But you have to be wary
There's a lot that's at stake
But I've stalled long enough
'Cause I'm still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps
Better run along home

And avoid the collision
Though at home they don't care
I'll be better off there
Where there's nothing to choose
So there's nothing to lose
So I'll pry up my shoes

Wait, though thinking it through
Things don't have to collide
I know what my decision is
Which is not to decide
I'll just leave him a clue
For example, a shoe

And then see what he'll do
Now it's he and not you
Who'll be stuck with a shoe
In a stew, in the goo
And I've learned something, too
Something I never knew
On the steps of the palace

On the Steps of the Palace
/
Lyrics
He's a very smart Prince
He's a Prince who prepares
Knowing this time I'd run from him
He spread pitch on the stairs
And I'm caught unawares
Well it means that, he cares
This is more than just malice
Better stop and take stock
While you're standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace
All right, what do you want?
Have to make a decision
Why not stay and be caught?
Should I give that a thought
What would be his response?
But then what if he knew
Who I am when I know
That I'm not what he thinks
That he wants?
Or, then, what if I am?
What a Prince would envision?
But then how can you know
Who you are 'til you know
What you want? Which I don't
So then which do you pick
Where you're safe, out of sight
And yourself, but where everything's wrong?
Or where everything's right
But you know that you'll never belong?
And whichever you pick
Do it quick
'Cause you're starting to stick
To the steps of the palace
It's my first big decision
The choice isn't easy to make
To arrive at a ball
Is exciting and all
Once you're there, though, it's scary
And it's fun to deceive
When you know you can leave
But you have to be wary
There's a lot that's at stake
But I've stalled long enough
'Cause I'm still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps
Better run along home
And avoid the collision
Though at home they don't care
I'll be better off there
Where there's nothing to choose
So there's nothing to lose
So I'll pry up my shoes
Wait, though thinking it through
Things don't have to collide
I know what my decision is
Which is not to decide
I'll just leave him a clue
For example, a shoe
And then see what he'll do
Now it's he and not you
Who'll be stuck with a shoe
In a stew, in the goo
And I've learned something, too
Something I never knew
On the steps of the palace



Hera Robianes

He's a very smart Prince
He's a Prince who prepares
Knowing this time I'd run from him
He spread pitch on the stairs
And I'm caught unawares
Well it means that, he cares
This is more than just malice
Better stop and take stock
While you're standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace
All right, what do you want?
Have to make a decision
Why not stay and be caught?
Should I give that a thought
What would be his response?
But then what if he knew
Who I am when I know
That I'm not what he thinks
That he wants?
Or, then, what if I am?
What a Prince would envision?
But then how can you know
Who you are 'til you know
What you want? Which I don't
So then which do you pick
Where you're safe, out of sight
And yourself, but where everything's wrong?
Or where everything's right
But you know that you'll never belong?
And whichever you pick
Do it quick
'Cause you're starting to stick
To the steps of the palace
It's my first big decision
The choice isn't easy to make
To arrive at a ball
Is exciting and all
Once you're there, though, it's scary
And it's fun to deceive
When you know you can leave
But you have to be wary
There's a lot that's at stake
But I've stalled long enough
'Cause I'm still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps
Better run along home
And avoid the collision
Though at home they don't care
I'll be better off there
Where there's nothing to choose
So there's nothing to lose
So I'll pry up my shoes
Wait, though thinking it through
Things don't have to collide
I know what my decision is
Which is not to decide
I'll just leave him a clue
For example, a shoe
And then see what he'll do
Now it's he and not you
Who'll be stuck with a shoe
In a stew, in the goo
And I've learned something, too
Something I never knew
On the steps of the palace



All comments from YouTube:

TinyTorah

Jeez. Like EVERY vocal choice she made is perfection.

Lia Goodvach

Totally gotta love Philipa Soo

Max Wonder

I donā€™t see that sheā€™s made any artistic decisions that are any different from any other Cinderella in any number of productions of this musical. She sings this very well, but has not distinguished herself from any of the others that have performed it.

Ayyzan

@Max Wonder who would you say is the best so far?

Max Wonder

@Ayyzan - I really donā€™t compare, or rate artists against each other. I also donā€™t necessarily have a favorite. Like I said, I think she did very well, but she didnā€™t do it any differently than anyone else Iā€™ve seen perform the role. She did not make it her own. So she really doesnā€™t deserve credit for making ā€œartistic choices.ā€ Iā€™ve seen about six different Cinderellaā€™s in (Into The Woods) in total.

TinyTorah

@Max Wonder, well, for one example, the way she colors her phrases differently and adds a conversational feel to the song without sacrificing any of the notes or rhythms. I can confidently say not all Cinderellaā€™s do this, and the ones that do I have not heard them do it quite so well.

8 More Replies...

Keira Roberts

My God, thank you to Lin Manuel Miranda for giving this woman her big break so that people know her name and how incredible she is. She is flourishing beyond Hamilton in fantastic roles like this and this recording is just pristine, the resonance, the articulation, the phrasing, the accuracy of the notes given itā€™s a Sondheimā€¦ I could listen to this all day!

moonriver inc

She emotes so effortlessly and never overacts I love her

Miigwech

Phillipa Soo is brilliant.

erınıdum

She makes it sound like this song is easy or something. Incredible!

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