Song Lyrics

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

But 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 you've stalled long enough
'Cause you're still standing stuck
In the stuff on the steps

Better run along home
And avoid the collision
Though at home they don't care
I'll be better of 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 is 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

Stephen Sondheim

The duration of On the Steps of the Palace is 3:14 minutes and seconds.