Agony

"Agony" is the 12th song of act I of Into The Woods. It is the 7th song in the Original Broadway Cast Recording.

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sondheim comment

Lyrics[]

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE]
Did I abuse her
Or show her disdain?
Why does she run from me?
If I should lose her
How shall I regain
The heart she has won from me?

Agony—!
Beyond power of speech
When the one thing you want
Is the only thing out of your reach

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE]
High in her tower
She sits by the hour
Maintaining her hair
Blithe and becoming
And frequently humming
A lighthearted air:
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah—

Agony—!
Far more painful than yours
When you know she would go with you
If there only were doors

[BOTH PRINCES]
Agony!
Oh, the torture they teach!

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE]
What's as intriguing—

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE]
Or half so fatiguing—

[BOTH PRINCES]
As what's out of reach?

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE]
Am I not sensitive, clever
Well-mannered, considerate
Passionate, charming
As kind as I'm handsome
And heir to a throne?

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE]
You are everything maidens could wish for!

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE]
Then why no—?

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE]
Do I know?

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE]
The girl must be mad

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE]
You know nothing of madness
Till you're climbing her hair
And you see her up there
As you're nearing her
All the while hearing her
"Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah—"

[BOTH PRINCES]
Agony!

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE]
Misery!

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE]
Woe!

[BOTH PRINCES]
Though it's different for each

[CINDERELLA'S PRINCE]
Always ten steps behind—

[RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE]
Always ten feet below—

[BOTH PRINCES]
And she's just out of reach
Agony
That can cut like a knife!
I must have her to wife