Andrew Lloyd Webber
Trial Before Pilate (Including the 39 Lashes)
[PILATE]
And so, the king is once again my guest
And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?

[CAIAPHAS]
We turned to Rome to sentence Nazareth
We have no law to put a man to death
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do

[ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS]
We need him crucified - it's all you have to do

[PILATE]
Talk to me, Jesus Christ
You've been brought here, manacled, beaten
By your own people; do you have the first idea
Why you deserve it?
Listen, king of the Jews
Where is your kingdom?
Look at me, am I a Jew?

[JESUS]
I have got no kingdom in this world
I'm through, through, through

[MOB]
Talk to me, Jesus Christ
[JESUS]
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere if I only knew

[PILATE]
Then you're a king?

[JESUS]
It's you that say I am
I look for truth

[PILATE]
(Laughs)

[JESUS]
And I get damned

[PILATE]
But what is truth? Not easy to define
We both have truths; are yours the same as mine?

[MOB]
Crucify him!
Crucify him!

[PILATE]
What do you mean? You'd crucify your king?
[MOB]
We have no king but Caesar!

[PILATE]
He's done no wrong, no, not the slightest thing!

[MOB]
We have no king but Caesar! Crucify him!

[PILATE]
Well, this is new respect for Caesar
'Til now this has been noticeably lacking
Who is this Jesus? Why is he different?
You Jews produce Messiahs by the sackful

[MOB]
We need him crucified; it's all you have to do
We need him crucified; it's all you have to do

[PILATE]
Talk to me, Jesus Christ
(gasping)
Look at your Jesus Christ
I'll agree he's mad
Ought to be locked up
But that is not a reason to destroy him
He's a sad little man, not a king or God
Not a thief, I need a crime
[MOB]
Kill him!
He says he's God!
He's a blasphemer
He'll conquer you and us and even Caesar
(Shouts)
Crucify him! Crucify him!

[PILATE]
Behold the man
Behold your shattered king

[MOB]
We have no king but Caesar

[PILATE]
You hypocrites! You hate us more than him

[MOB]
We have no king but Caesar! Crucify him!

[PILATE]
I see no reason - I find no evil
This man is harmless so why does he upset you?
He's just misguided, thinks he's important
But to keep you vultures happy, I shall flog him!

[MOB]
Crucify him!
Crucify him!
Crucify! Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!
Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify! Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!
Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify! Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!

[PILATE]
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39!
Where are you from Jesus? What do you want Jesus? Tell me
You've got to be careful, you could be dead soon
Could well be
Why do you not speak when I have your life in my hands?
How can you stay quiet? I don't believe you understand

[JESUS]
You have nothing in your hands
Any power you have comes to you from far beyond
Everything is fixed, and you can't change it

[PILATE]
You're a fool, Jesus Christ, how can I help you?

[MOB]
Pilate! Crucify him! Crucify him!
Remember Caesar, you have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar, you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!
Remember Caesar, you have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar, you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!
Remember Caesar, you have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar, you'll be demoted, you'll be deported
Crucify him!

[PILATE]
Don't let me stop your great self-destruction
Die if you want to, you misguided martyr!
I wash my hands of your demolition
Die if you want to, you innocent puppet!