NOTHING LIKE BROADWAY: DAVID RACKOFF LYRICS & MUSIC
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What If There Were No More Villains?

The context: Late in the second act, Kishka, the lascivious Russian spy, wrestles with the idea of joining with our heroes to save the world.

A little about the creation of this song: This was a fun song to write. I love "Big Sing" songs about grand internal struggles. It's also fun that, to her, she's doing the most traumatizing thing a person can do: be nice! (A technical note: This is not the key it will be in when a woman belts the hell out of it.)
What If There Were No More Villains?
​​
Music & Lyrics by David Rackoff
                          KISHKA
SO THAT MAKES ME THE BAD GUY?
THE ONE YOU PEOPLE BOO?
​YOU HATE ME JUST A TAD, GUY?
WELL, GUY, I HATE YOU, TOO.

THE NICE-IES ARE ALL SPINELESS.
THEY MAKE ME HAVE TO YAWN.
SO NOW YOU ALL WILL WHINE LESS
WHEN BAD GUYS ALL ARE GONE.

     WHAT IF THERE WERE NO MORE VILLAINS?
     THAT’S WHAT YOU’LL ALL FIND OUT.
     FROM HERE ON YOU FORGO MORE VILLAINS.
     AND I’LL JUST SIT AND POUT.

I’VE ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR POWER.
FOR SOIL, BLOOD AND MIGHT.
BUT IN MY DARKEST HOUR,
I MAY JUST LEAVE THE FIGHT.

THE LAWS OF MAN RESTRAIN US
FROM CHANGING HORSE MIDSTREAM.
IT’S NOTHING SHORT OF HEINOUS
TO TRUST THE OTHER TEAM.

     WHAT IF THERE WERE NO MORE VILLAINS?
     NO THING YOU FEAR THE MOST.
     I’LL BE THE ONE TO SHOW MORE VILLAINS
     TO JUST GIVE UP THE GHOST.

          MY EYES ARE DAMP, MY VEINS ARE DRY, 
          MY OPENINGS ARE CLENCHED.
          SO TELL ME WHAT'S THE REASON WHY
          MY GUTS ARE FEELING WRENCHED?

          THIS TRAIN OF THOUGHT IS INCOMPLETE,
          I’VE STILL A WAYS TO GO.
          COULD I BE HONEST, KIND, AND SWEET,
          BUT VILLAINOUSLY SO?

     COULD WE ALL BE, YES, STILL VILLAINS,
     BUT UNASHAMED AND FREE?
     SO MAYBE WE PROGRESS: STILL VILLAINS,
     BUT IF YOU FOLLOW ME…

               WE’RE IN ANOTHER UNIVERSE!

     ONE WHERE WE ARE, YES, STILL VILLAINS,
     BUT IN VALIANT WAY.
     WE’RE HEROES AND I GUESS STILL VILLAINS
     ​AND WE WILL SAVE THE DAY!


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  • Home
  • Nothing Like Broadway! (the musical)
  • Songs from Nothing Like Broadway!
  • Other Songs
    • This Is Our Land (from Genius Grant)
    • A Hundred Years from Now
    • This Is the Start of Something...
    • Nothing Like Broadway
    • A Mop
    • The World's Most Famous Spy
    • If I Could Sing My Feelings (End of Act I)
    • In Another Universe
    • The Gods of the Theater
    • The Squeedle Song
    • How Dee Do, Little Pill
    • You Only Love Me for My...
    • I'm in Love with a Pianist
    • What If There Were No More Villains?
    • The Racing Horse Winner
    • Swan Song
    • Sing Along
    • Surprisingly Similar Way to Me
    • A Day at the Fair
    • An Underwhelming Life
    • Sticking My Neck Out Again
    • You Can't Have Too Much Christmas/I Can't Breathe (The Rocking Horse Winner Opening)
    • A Dream for Paul
    • BodyHair
    • Yell to the Heavens
  • Lyrics Can Have...
    • Wordplay
    • Euphony
    • Perfect Scansion
    • Story-telling
    • Rhymes
    • Musicality
    • Comedy
    • Imagery
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Videos
  • Spain & Rackoff website