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(Stephen Sondheim)


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 till 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 these 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 no 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