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.
Glory
Stephen Schwartz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glory!Glory!
Glory!Glory!
Praise be to Charles our Lord
Triumphant is his Sword
Allegiance is his Word
Glory! Glory!
Blood!
Blood is red as Sunset
Blood is Warmer than Wine
The taste of salty Summer Brine
Steel!
Steel is cold as Moonlight
Steel is sharper than Sight
Sharper that Sight
The touch of Bitter Winter white
Shout it out from the highest Tower
Shout it out in the darkest Hour
Charlemagne, you lead us on to ... Power!
War is strict as Jesus (War)
War it's finer than spring (War)
Service to Christ and our....King
Shout it out from the highest Tower
Shout it out in the darkest Hour
Charlemagne, you lead us on to Power!
War is strict as Jesus
War it's finer than spring
(Oh, You ain't seen nuthin' yet!)
The Gates of Heaven Await
Thrown wide by Charles the Great
We follow him through by serving his state
Glory! Glory!
Glory! Glory!
(Glory!)
The song "Glory" by Stephen Schwartz is a rousing and triumphant tribute to the accomplishments of Charlemagne, the medieval emperor who led the Frankish Empire during the 8th century. The lyrics use vivid imagery and powerful language to evoke the barbarous and bloody battles that Charlemagne led his armies through, while also praising his skill as a leader and his devotion to both his faith and his people. The repeated refrain of "Glory! Glory!" reinforces the idea of triumph and exaltation in the face of adversity, with Charlemagne portrayed as a heroic figure who led his followers to victory and greatness.
The opening lines of the song "Battles, barbarous, and bloody" set the stage for the rest of the lyrics, which are a series of vivid and powerful metaphors that reinforce the themes of war and conquest. Blood and steel are both used as symbols of the violence and brutality of war, while also representing the passion and determination of Charlemagne and his followers. References to Jesus and God reinforce the idea of divine intervention and support for the cause of the faithful, while also suggesting the idea that Charlemagne's military campaigns were driven by a sense of duty and destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
Battles, Barbarous, and Bloody
Describing the nature of war as violent, savage and merciless
Glory!Glory!
Celebrating the victorious and triumphant spirit of warriors
Glory!Glory!
Repeating the exultation of battle and conquest
Praise be to Charles our Lord
Acknowledging Charlemagne's leadership and divine right to rule
Triumphant is his Sword
Portraying Charlemagne's weapon as a symbol of his success and power
Allegiance is his Word
Highlighting the importance of loyalty and obedience to the king
Blood!
Evoking the violence and sacrifice of war
Blood is red as Sunset
Depicting the color of blood and its associated imagery
Blood is Warmer than Wine
Contrasting the temperature of blood to wine, a common celebratory drink
The taste of salty Summer Brine
Eliciting the sensory experience of the ocean and its connection to war
Steel!
Describing the weapons of war with a sense of power and strength
Steel is cold as Moonlight
Comparing the temperature of steel to moonlight, a common symbol of coldness associated with war
Steel is sharper than Sight
Suggesting that the sharpness of weapons can overwhelm the senses
Sharper that Sight
Reinforcing the idea that the sharpness of weapons can blind or dull the senses
The touch of Bitter Winter white
Describing the sensation of coldness associated with winter, a common symbol of hardship and suffering
Shout it out from the highest Tower
Exhorting the warriors to express their enthusiasm loudly and publicly
Shout it out in the darkest Hour
Encouraging the warriors to remain steadfast and vocal even in difficult times
Charlemagne, you lead us on to ... Power!
Expressing the belief that Charlemagne's leadership will bring success and glory
War is strict as Jesus
Comparing the rigid and demanding nature of war to the teachings of Christ
(War)
Emphasizing the constant presence and importance of war
War it's finer than spring
Suggesting that the beauty and vitality of spring is inferior to the energy and excitement of war
Service to Christ and our....King
Reinforcing the ties between religion and loyalty to the king
The Gates of Heaven Await
Suggesting that death in battle can lead to eternal salvation
Thrown wide by Charles the Great
Crediting Charlemagne with the power to open the gates of heaven
We follow him through by serving his state
Reiterating the importance of serving the king and following his lead
Glory! Glory!
Returning to the triumphant and celebratory tone of the song
Glory! Glory!
Emphasizing the importance of glory and victory in war
(Glory!)
Echoing the repeated exultation and excitement of combat
Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.