Original Cast of OZ: A New Musical - Wonderful / In Other Lands Than Ours (Reprise)

A YOUNGER MAN THAN I
SET OUT ON THE ROAD TO FIND HIS WORTH.
HE SAID “I’LL PLAY UPON THE STAGE
AND BRING FOLKS SOME JOY AND MIRTH.”
WHEN HE WAS TWENTY-THREE
HE LOOKED AROUND TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE.
HE WROTE A PLAY WHERE HE COULD PORTRAY
THE HERO AND BE ALL THE THINGS
HE’D EVER WANT TO BE,

AND THE PEOPLE AGREED.
THEY SAID,
“IT’S WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL.
THE WAY YOU USE THE WORDS IS SIMPLY WONDERFUL.” 

WHEN THE WORLD STOPS MAKING SENSE,
LET YOUR PENCIL’S WORK COMMENCE,

AND IN THE END YOU HOPE THEY THINK IT’S WONDERFUL.
BUT SOMETIMES THE WORDS’ RHYMES
WON’T DO JUST AS THEY’RE TOLD.
THE LIMELIGHT, THE GREASEPAINT -
DON’T YOU SEEM A BIT TOO OLD
TO STRUT AROUND UPON A STAGE
YOU BARELY EARN A LIVING WAGE.

WITH A SON ON THE WAY,

THOSE ARE DREAMS FOR OTHER DAYS.
IT’S TIME TO FIND A GROWN UP KIND OF WONDERFUL.
AN OLDER MAN THAN HE
THEN SET OUT TO FIND A DIFFERENT PLAN.
AT THIRTY-FOUR
HE OPENED UP A STORE

TO PEDDLE GOODS AND WONDERS IF HE CAN.
NOW A FAMILY MAN,

HE LOOKED AROUND TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE.
HE FILLED THE SHOP FROM THE FLOOR TO THE TOP
WITH CHINA DOLLS AND YO-YO STRINGS.

EVEN WROTE A MAGAZINE
FOR OTHER MERCHANTS TO READ.
THEY SAID,
“IT’S WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL.
YOU DISPLAY A TURN OF PHRASE THAT’S SIMPLY WONDERFUL.” 

WHEN THE WORLD STOPS MAKING SENSE
LET YOUR PENCIL’S WORK COMMENCE

AND IN THE END YOU HOPE THEY THINK IT’S WONDERFUL.
BUT DROUGHT COMES AND TOY DRUMS
DON’T MATTER WHEN YOU’RE COLD.
WITH NO CROP, THE SALES DROP
DON’T YOU SEEM A BIT TOO OLD
TO SHILL YOUR WARES TO HUNGRY MOUTHS?
WHEN TIMES WERE FAT YOUR WORDS AROUSED THE FARMERS’ WIVES TO PAY.

SAVE THOSE DREAMS FOR BETTER DAYS.
IT’S TIME TO FIND A GROWN UP KIND OF WONDERFUL.
THINGS IN LIFE DON’T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED.

TAKE THE CHANCE TO REARRANGE.
FACE THE SHIFTING SAND.
AN OLDER MAN THAN HE
TOOK ONE MORE CHANCE TO MAKE HIS MARK.
FROM TALES THAT HE TOLD TO HIS SONS,
A STORY APPEARED LIKE A SPARK
WHEN HE WAS FORTY-THREE
HE LOOKED AROUND TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE.
ALL COLOR FROM GRAY,
A PLACE FAR AWAY,

LIKE THIS ONE, BUT ONLY MORE JUST,
WHERE EVERYONE IS FREE.

AND THE CHILDREN AGREED.
THEY SAID,
“IT’S WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL.
THE PICTURES AND THE WORDS ARE SIMPLY WONDERFUL.” 

WHEN THE WORLD STOPS MAKING SENSE
LET YOUR PENCIL’S WORK COMMENCE

AND IN THE END YOU HOPE THEY THINK IT’S WONDERFUL.
BUT WIZARDS AND WITCHES
ARE NOT THE COMMON MOLD

FOR AUTHORS OF IMPORT -
DESPITE WHAT YOU’VE BEEN TOLD.
IT’S NO MORE PENCIL ONLY PEN
FOR TRULY LITERARY MEN.

A FAIRY TALE IS FINE,

AND VERY FEW COMPARE WITH MINE.
IT’S TIME TO FIND A GROWN UP KIND OF WONDERFUL.
THIS IS THE MOMENT OF MY REBIRTH.
I’LL WRITE A NOVEL OF SERIOUS WORTH.
MAYBE I WILL FIND MYSELF AGAIN

IN OTHER LANDS THAN OZ 

Ozma, I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for bringing Uncle Henry and Aunt Em to live here in Oz.
I knew it was the only way to get you to live here, little friend.
I know they will be ever so happy in the Munchkin Country.
GLINDA, THE GOOD
I’M SURE THAT YOU KNOW
MY CONCERNS ONLY GROW
OF TECHNOLOGY’S RISE.
WHAT IF ONE
OF THESE NEW AEROPLANES
TRAVELED THROUGH OUR DOMAIN
AND WE WERE FOUND FROM THE SKY? 

NOW THAT OUR DOROTHY IS HERE FOR GOOD,
WE MUST HIDE OUR LOCATION FROM ALL THE WORLD,
SO NO ONE ELSE CAN VISIT US AGAIN
FROM OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.
The writer of these Oz stories has received a little note from Princess Dorothy of Oz, written on the broad white feather of a stork’s wing. 
You will never hear anything more about Oz, because we are now cut off forever from all the rest of the world.
THIS IS OUR FINAL ADVENTURE,

YET WE WILL ALWAYS BE FRIENDS.
IT’S BEEN QUITE AN ADVENTURE,

BUT THIS IS WHERE OUR JOURNEY ENDS,
AND ANOTHER BEGINS.
I WILL WRITE A NEW STORY,

THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN STORY.
LIKE MELVILLE OR JAMES,

NEXT TO THOSE NAMES FOR ALL TIME.
NO MORE TALKING CHICKENS

I COULD BE THE NEXT DICKENS.
L. FRANK BAUM ON THE SPINE OF A MASTERPIECE.
THIS IS HOW I DEFINE MY LEGACY.
I’LL MAKE SOMETHING GRAND.
NOW MY FUTURE’S PLANNED
FOR OTHER LANDS THAN OZ.

Written by:
Eric Davis, Michael Raabe

Publisher:
Lyrics © Too Lost LLC

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