Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied pia… Read Full Bio ↴Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama.

Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as a producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre. His first major credit was the title song for the play Butterflies Are Free; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well.

In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for Godspell, for which he won several awards including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's Mass, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for Pippin and two years later, The Magic Show. Next were the music and lyrics for The Baker's Wife, which closed before reaching Broadway after a disastrous out-of-town tryout tour in 1976. However, the cast album went on to attain cult status, leading to several subsequent productions, including a London revival directed by Trevor Nunn in 1988.

Mr. Schwartz's next Broadway project was a musical version of Studs Terkel's Working, which he adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director, and contributed four songs to the score. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS "American Playhouse" series.

Next came songs for a one-act musical for children, The Trip, and a children's book, The Perfect Peach. He then wrote music for three of the songs of an Off-Broadway revue, Personals, and lyrics to Charles Strouse's music for Rags.

In 1991, Mr. Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the popular Children of Eden, book by John Caird. He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features Pocahontas, for which he received two Academy Awards, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt, for which he won another Academy Award for the song When You Believe. Mr. Schwartz provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, Geppetto, seen on The Wonderful World of Disney.

In 2003, Schwartz returned to Broadway in earnest, as composer and lyricist for Wicked, a musical based on Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which uses L. Frank Baum's Oz characters as a base for a tale of two witches. Schwartz won a Grammy Award for his work as composer/lyricist and producer of Wicked's cast recording.

Ironically, Schwartz has won every major award in his field (3 Oscars, 4 Grammys, 3 Drama Desk Awards and a self-described "tiny handful of tennis trophies") except the Tony Award, which his scores have been nominated for numerous times but have never won.

By My Side
Stephen Schwartz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Where are you going?
Where are you going?
Can you take me with you?
For my hand is cold
And needs warmth
Where are you going?
Far beyond where the horizon lies
Where the horizon lies

And the land sinks into mellow blueness
Oh please, take me with you
Let me skip the road with you
I can dare myself
I can dare myself
I'll put a pebble in my shoe
And watch me walk (watch me walk)
I can walk
(chorus) I can walk!
I shall call the pebble Dare
I shall call the pebble Dare
We will walk, we will talk together
We will talk (chorus) about walking
Dare shall be carried
(chorus) And when we both have had enough
I will take him from my shoe, singing
(chorus) "Meet your new road!"
Then I'll take your hand
Finally glad
(chorus) Finally glad
That you are here
By my side
(Chorus)
By my side
By my side
By my side
(Spoken, by Judas) (Matt. 26:14-16)
Then the man they called Judas Iscariot
Went to the chief priests, and said
"What will you give me to betray Him to you?"
They paid him thirty pieces of silver.
And from that moment, he began to look out for an opportunity
To betray Him.
(Chorus:)
By my side
By my side

By my side
By my side

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stephen Schwartz's song "By My Side" are a plea for companionship and a yearning for adventure. The singer asks the person she is addressing where they are going and if they can take her with them because her hand is cold and needs warmth. She is willing to venture far beyond the horizon and into mellow blueness, and she wants someone to share this journey with. The singer is willing to challenge herself by placing a pebble in her shoe to test her physical endurance, and she eagerly awaits the experience of walking and talking together with her companion. Finally, the singer is grateful to have someone by her side, banishing any feelings of loneliness or fear.

Line by Line Meaning

Where are you going?
Asking where the person is heading towards.

Can you take me with you?
Requesting the person to take along on their journey.

For my hand is cold
Suggesting that the person is alone and needs the warmth and companionship of another person.

And needs warmth
Explaining the need for emotional support and warmth.

Far beyond where the horizon lies
Willingness to look beyond the visible horizon to explore the unknown.

And the land sinks into mellow blueness
Describing the beauty of the surroundings and willingness to experience it.

Let me skip the road with you
Desiring to join the person on their journey, embracing the opportunities and challenges that come along the way.

I can dare myself
Showing self-confidence and willingness to take risks.

I'll put a pebble in my shoe
Intending to keep a constant reminder of the shared experience by taking a small piece of it in the form of a pebble.

And watch me walk (watch me walk)
Inviting the other person to observe and share the experience of walking on the same path.

I can walk!
Celebrating the strength and courage to walk through life's journey with the other person.

I shall call the pebble Dare
Naming the pebble that has become a symbolic reminder of the shared experience.

We will walk, we will talk together
Emphasizing the importance of companionship and mutual exchange of thoughts and ideas.

Dare shall be carried
Highlighting the central role that the pebble would play in the journey, as a reminder of the shared experience and bond between the two individuals.

And when we both have had enough
Acknowledging that the journey may be tiring and overwhelming, but expressing the willingness to continue it together.

I will take him from my shoe, singing
Promising to cherish the memories and experiences of the journey, and celebrate it with song and joy.

"Meet your new road!"
A reflection of embracing the changes and new experiences that the journey would lead to, with excitement and optimism.

Finally glad
Expressing the satisfaction and happiness at finding companionship and support on the journey.

That you are here
Acknowledging the value and importance of having the other person by their side.

Then the man they called Judas Iscariot
The introduction of a biblical character named Judas Iscariot.

Went to the chief priests, and said
Describing the action of Judas Iscariot in seeking to betray Jesus to the Jewish authorities.

"What will you give me to betray Him to you?"
Judas Iscariot's willingness to betray Jesus for personal gains.

They paid him thirty pieces of silver.
The amount paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus to the Jewish authorities.

And from that moment, he began to look out for an opportunity
Judas Iscariot's eagerness to betray Jesus after agreeing on a deal with the Jewish authorities.

To betray Him.
Judas Iscariot's intention to betray Jesus, despite being one of his trusted disciples.

By my side
Repeatedly emphasizing the importance of companionship and support on the journey through life.

Contributed by Zachary P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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