"Written in Stone" is a song deleted from the film Mulan. The song was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz. As with all other songs written by Schwartz for the film, "Written in Stone" was deleted when Schwartz was removed from the project after refusing to leave his duties on the film The Prince of Egypt by the competing studio DreamWorks Animation.[1] Despite this, "Written in Stone" was used in Mulan Jr., the children's theatre production of Mulan. In the production, the song is performed in three parts.
The first part of the song is performed by the Fa Family Ancestors and tells of the unchanging traditions of China, which are said to be written in stone. The second part of the song is about men, women and children and how they each have their own roles, which too are written in stone. The final part of the song reprises material from the first and second part. It also expresses a personal wish on the part of the singers that everything stay the same and offers a warning of the "avalanche" that can happen should you move just one rock.
Lea Salonga, the singing voice of Fa Mulan, auditioned for Mulan with "Written in Stone."[2] The song was originally placed in the film when Mulan dresses in soldier's clothing and rides off to join the Chinese army.[3]
Lyrics
Welcome friends!
Welcome to Ancient China!
Welcome to the story of Mulan!
It is a story of adventure...
Historic battles.
But most importantly, it is a story of honor...
Of loyalty.
Of strength.
Of destiny.
And of love.
Here in Ancient China, we believe that our destinies are written in stone.
Traditions are handed down.
From dynasty to dynasty. Unchanged.
We honor the way life has been for our family.
And will continue to be...
For eternity.
We wake up each morning to another day
Each one playing a part that is her own
With a future as certain as the buds of May
Ev'ry step of the way already known
Written in stone
We are the Fa family ancestors.
Many years ago, we lived and walked the roads of China, just like our great-great-granddaughter Mulan.
And now, we watch over her from the heavens.
We belong not to the present, but to the past.
We guide Mulan from afar, through wisdom and love.
Here in China, each person has a place and knows his duty.
Or her duty.
Father must protect the family
Defend his house from shame
Father must secure his honor
Father must preserve the name
Written in stone
And the mother, protector of all traditions.
Serve the tea
Tend the rose
Mother, daughter, so it goes
Written in stone
And of course, the devoted children.
The daughters will grow up to be beautiful brides.
The sons will grow up to be brave soldiers.
Honor and obey (Honor and obey)
Follow duties' calls (Follow duties' calls)
Fulfill my destiny (Fulfill my destiny)
It's all!
Written in stone
Written in stone
And so I follow the path that was assigned to me
So I honor the ones who went before
Oh, Ancestors, say you won't be blind to me
I pray to you be kind to me
In Ancient China, we believe that we all have our roles to play.
But a journey of a thousand miles...
Must begin with one single step.
This is Mulan's journey...
We wake up each morning to another day
Each one playing the part that is their own
The future as certain as the buds of May
Ev'ry step of the way already known
synchronous with above
Serve the tea
Tend the rose
Mother, daughter, so it goes
Written in stone
also synchronous with above
Father must protect the family
Defend his house from shame
Father must secure his honor
Father must preserve the name
Written in stone
And so I follow the path that was assigned to me
So I honor the ones who went before
Oh, Ancestors, say you won't be blind to me
I pray to you be kind to me
I pray that today will be as yesterday
That tomorrow continues much the same
That I live out my destiny and never stray
From the course that may someday see my name
Written in stone
Written in stone
Written in...
Tradition is much like a mountainside. Move one rock and you might create an avalanche.
(wild vocalizing) Mulan!!!
See the pretty little China doll
Pale and fragile, she's a China doll
Delicate as a pomegranate tree
That is all she was ever born to be
It's destiny, well not for me
I woke up this morning to another day
With a face painted on that's not my own
With a future as certain as the buds of May
Every step of my way already known
Written in stone
Now of all a sudden, in a strange new place
There's a duty that calls
And I must go
And the face in my mirror is a strange new face
And what lies up ahead, I don't know
On the crest of the wind
I will ride away
Where the dust of the desert is blown
And no more will I sit
And let my life be written in stone
Written in stone
Oh mother and father
Don't wear white for me
Dry your eyes and deliver me a prayer
May the eyes of my ancestors shine bright for me
I will need every prayer you can spare
On the crest of the wind
I will ride away
Far beyond where the wild geese have flown
I am scared, I admit
My future won't be written in stone
And if destiny brings me a bitter day
If I sleep on the ground cold as bone
That's the fate I'll embrace
If the future that I face is unknown
Risky, but free
Till it can be
Written in stone
By meeeeeeeeeeeee.
External link
- Written in Stone on Wikipedia
References
- ↑ Stephen Schwartz - Other shows and songs on Internet Archive
- ↑ Sciences, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and. "Original Mulan Passes the Torch" (en). A.frame.
- ↑ Irvyne (November 13, 2014). "2014: The Year of Disney Project: MULAN (1998)". Disney14.
