Climbing Uphill/Audition Sequence - Lyrics - Jason Robert Brown

CATHERINE When you come home to me, I'll wear a sweeter smile And hope that, for a while, You'll… Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. I'm climbin' uphill, Daddy. Climbin' uphill. I'm up ev'ry morning at six And standing in line With two hundred girls Who are younger and thinner than me Who have already been to the gym. I'm waiting five hours in line, And watching the girls Just coming and going In dresses that look just like this, ‘Til my number is finally called. When I walk in the room, There's a table of men – Always men, usually gay – Who've been sitting, like I have, And listening all day To two hundred girls Belting as high as they can! I am a good person I'm an attractive person. I am a talented person Grant me Grace! When you come home… I should have told them I was sick last week. They're gonna think this is the way I sing. Why is the pianist playing so loud? Should I sing louder? I'll sing louder. Maybe I should stop and start over. I'm going to stop and start over. Why is the director staring at his crotch? Why is that man staring at my résumé? Don't stare at my résumé. I made up half my résumé. Look at me. Stop looking at that, look at me. No, not at my shoes. Don't look at my shoes – I hate these *** shoes. Why did I pick these shoes? Why did I pick this song? Why did I pick this career? Why does this pianist hate me? If I don't get a callback, I can go to Crate and Barrel with Mom to buy a couch. Not that I want to spend a day with Mom, But Jamie needs space to write, Since I'm obviously such a horrible annoying distraction to him. What's he gonna be like when we have kids? And once again… Why am I working so hard? These are the people who cast Linda Blair in a musical. Jesus Christ, I suck, I suck, I suck, I suck. When fin'lly you come home To… Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. I will not be the girl stuck at home in the ‘burbs With the baby, the dog and the garden of herbs. I will not be the girl in the sensible shoes Pushing burgers and beer nuts and missing the clues. I will not be the girl who gets asked how it feels To be trotting along at the genius's heels! I will not be the girl who requires a man to get by, And I… When you come home… …And banish any trace of gray! Soon a love will rise anew, Even greater than the joy…