"And all shall know the wonder..of purple summer."

Upon a recent and amazing trip into Philly to see Spring Awakening the Musical with two fabulous ladies the question arose: Why end the show with Song of Purple Summer?" Now We are talking to people who have seen the show 3-4 times. This was my second time and tonight on stage will be my third. However, I think Wednesday night was the first time I actually understood why Sater and Shiek end the show with Song of Purple Summer. Part of it has to do with Ilse's monologue before the song and part of it has to do with the quote that follows by Steven Sater.

"Then, perhaps there is something in the nature of song itself that opens the door to story—that admits us to the heart of the singer—as if every song tells of a sort of unacknowledged "I want." For what we sing is what is unspoken, what is hidden. The "real story."" ~Steven Sater TCG article found here http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/julyaugust07/spring.cfm

Ilse's Monologue: Listen to what's in the heart of a child. A song so big in one so small. Soon You will hear where beauty lies. You'll hear and you'll recall. The sadness and doubt of the loss, the grief will belong to some play from the past. As the child leads the way to a dream of belief. A time will hope through the land. (not sure on the last line)
You can hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyLCfHqWGOY

A summer's day a mother sings
a song of purple summer
through the heart of everything
and heaven waits
so close it seams
to show her child the wonders
of a world beyond her dreams
The earth will wave with corn
the days so white so warm
and mares will neigh
with stallions that they mate
foals they've born
And all shall know the wonder
of purple summer

Why end with this song?
I think this song has the hint of what the Lion King was going for with Circle of Life. Song of Purple Summer is a song about the course of life and hope for a better future. We are always told that children see things very differently than adults. That having a Child's heart and seeing with a Child's eyes is the only way to view the world for what it really is. It is beautiful and mystifying. We have just witness a lot happen to characters that are still considered children in their world. They are barely 14 years old. We have just watched they be engulfed by the world around them and defy the world around them.

This song speaks about how things change and the hope they things will change for the good or for the better. It is the pefect song to give us closure after we hear the haunting song of Melchior, Wendla, and Moritz telling us that remembering those we have lost will help up to go on.

That's all I got for now. I'll post more when I decide to get more philosophical about it!
Until Thoughtful Days,
Me