"The Wizard and I" is a song featured in the 2024 film Wicked which was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz. It is performed by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible. The song serves as Elphaba's first solo number in the film, introducing her character and her dreams of meeting The Wizard of Oz.
Background[]
In the song, Madame Morrible tells Elphaba that she will arrange a meeting with the Wizard of Oz. This begins Elphaba's desire to change herself, with the aid of the Wizard, who she still believes to be genuine, and can help her with all her problems. Elphaba also sings about redeeming herself in her father, Frex, and her sister Nessarose's eyes, and having the Wizard cure her of her sickly green appearance. Also, Elphaba dreams about becoming a new person, not only on the outside, but doing great deeds in league with the Wizard, and forming Oz's "fav'rite team."
Lyrics[]
Morrible:
Oh, Miss Elphaba
Many years I have waited
For a gift like yours to appear
Why, I predict the Wizard could make you his
Magic grand vizier!
My dear, my dear
I'll write at once to the Wizard
Tell him of you in advance
With a talent like yours, dear
There is a definish chance
If you work as you should
You'll be making good
Elphaba:
Did that really just happen?
Have I actually understood?
This weird quirk I've tried
To suppress or hide
Is a talent that could
Help me meet the Wizard
If I make good
So I'll make good
When I meet the Wizard
Once I prove my worth
And then I meet the Wizard
What I've waited for since, since birth!
And with all his Wizard wisdom
By my looks, he won't be blinded
Do you think the Wizard is dumb?
Or, like Munchkins, so small-minded? No!
He'll say to me, "I see who you truly are
A girl on whom I can rely!"
And that's how we'll begin
The Wizard and I
Once I'm with the Wizard
My whole life will change
Cause once you're with the Wizard
No one thinks you're strange!
No, father is not proud of you
No sister acts ashamed
And all of Oz has to love you
When by the Wizard, you're acclaimed
And this gift or this curse I have inside
Maybe at last, I'll know why
When we are hand in hand
The Wizard and I
And one day, he'll say to me
"Elphaba, a girl who is so superior
Shouldn't a girl who's so good inside
Have a matching exterior?
And since folks here to an absurd degree
Seem fixated on your verdigris
Would it be alright by you
If I de-greenify you?"
And though, of course, that's not important to me
"All right, why not?" I'll reply
Oh, what a pair we'll be, The Wizard and I
Yes, what a pair we'll be, The Wizard and...
Unlimited
My future is unlimited
And I've just had a vision
Almost like a prophecy, I know
It sounds truly crazy
And true, the vision's hazy
But I swear, someday there'll be
A celebration throughout Oz
That's all to do with me!
And I'll stand there with the Wizard
Feeling things I've never felt
And though I'd never show it
I'd be so happy, I could melt!
And so it will be for the rest of my life
And I'll want nothing else 'til I die
Held in such high esteem
When people see me, they will scream
For half of Oz's favorite team
The Wizard and I
