2022-06-11: “I Wish” Songs

I’m testing the depth of the river with both feet. 

In a musical, the main character(s) get an “I Wish” song that describes their motivations, their hopes, their dreams, and then we see how that all plays out during the rest of the show. I chose a rousing Gilbert & Sullivan tune and thought about who it would fit. 

I finished the lyrics for the first draft of Trump Supporters Under Orders, based on “Tower Warders” from YEOMEN OF THE GUARD by Gilbert and Sullivan. As before, I took a PDF of the sheet music and used digital white-out then penciled in my own words. 

This felt like the “I Wish” song for the Oath Keepers. That meant that the tenor part had to be Stewart Rhodes. 

It all fell into place, eventually. 

How many songs does a musical need? About 15-20? Hamilton has 46. Some of them reprise an earlier song. 

Though I’ve never written a musical before, I know more show tunes than a straight guy has any right to know. I can do this. 

CHORUS

Trump supporters under orders, 

Oathbound gunmen, weapon hoarders, 

White complexion, 

Insurrection,

Overturning false election! 

We were called here 

by our leader, 

Trump said we must fight much harder, 

Our Oath to the Constitution never waivers, 

We will Stop the Steal!