"Defying Gravity" is the finale for Wicked's first act, when Elphaba, who, until now, has seen the Wizard of Oz as a heroic figure who can give her life some noble direction, discovers that he is not at all what he seems. The Wizard's regime, in fact, is waging a propaganda campaign against the Animals of Oz (including Dr. Dillamond), who have been oppressed to such a degree that they lose their powers of speech or worse, never learn to speak at all. (Dr. Dillamond, for instance, initially starts to lose his speech in "Something Bad" when he pronounces bad as 'baaaad,' bleating like an actual goat). Realizing this, and despite Glinda's attempts to dissuade her, Elphaba vows to do everything in her power to fight the Wizard and his sinister plans. She sings of how she wants to live without limits, going against the rules that others have set for her, trying to convince Glinda to follow her, by a moment, without success. During the song, Elphaba, apparently cornered by those who are hunting her, enchants a broomstick to levitate and, in the last verse, rises from the stage and levitates above the angered Citizens of Oz, who try in vain to "bring her down."
The song is widely regarded as being the musical's signature song, although the songs Popular and For Good have lived up to its name as well. The musical has generally received thunderous applause after this song due to the song's status as a showstopper.
The song touches on elements from some earlier themes, with Elphaba singing "Unlimited!" as sung in The Wizard and I and the Citizens of Oz again singing that No One Mourns The Wicked
Lyrics[]
GLINDA:
(spoken) Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for once, instead of flying off the handle!
(sung) I hope you're happy!
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever!
ELPHABA;
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy, too
I hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition
BOTH:
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy right now
GLINDA:
(spoken) Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry:
(sung) You can still be with the Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted:
ELPHABA:
(spoken) I know:
(sung) But I don't want it -
No - I can't want it
Anymore:
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!
It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
GLINDA:
Can't I make you understand?
You're having delusions of grandeur:
ELPHABA:
I'm through accepting limits
'Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down:
(spoken) Glinda - come with me. Think of what we could do: together.
(sung) Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been
Glinda -
Dreams, the way we planned 'em
GLINDA:
If we work in tandem:
BOTH:
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity
ELPHABA:
They'll never bring us down!
(spoken) Well? Are you coming?
GLINDA:
I hope you're happy
Now that you're choosing this
ELPHABA:
(spoken) You too
(sung) I hope it brings you bliss
BOTH:
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend:
ELPHABA:
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!
GLINDA:
I hope you're happy!
CITIZENS OF OZ:
Look at her, she's wicked!
Get her!
ELPHABA:
Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ:
No one mourns the wicked
So we've got to bring her
ELPHABA:
Ahhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ:
Down!