Lyrics of 'Trial Before Pilate' by Jesus Christ Superstar

PILATE

And so the king is once again my guest.
And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?

CAIAPHAS

We turn to Rome to sentence Nazareth.
We have no law to put a man to death.
We need him crucified.
It's all you have to do.
We need him crucified.
It's all you have to do.

PILATE

Talk to me Jesus Christ.
You have been brought here
Manacled, beaten by your own people.
Do you have the first idea why you deserve it?
Listen King of the Jews,
Where is your kingdom?
Look at me. Am I a Jew?

JESUS

I have no kingdom in this world.
I'm through.
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere.
If you only knew.

PILATE

Then you are a king?

JESUS

It's you that say I am.
I look for truth and find that I get damned.

PILATE

But what is truth?
Is truth a changing law?
We both have truths.
Are mine the same as yours?

MOB

Crucify him! Crucify him!

PILATE

What do you mean?
You'd crucify your king?

MOB

We have no king but Caesar!

PILATE

He's done no wrong.
No, not the slightest thing.

MOB

We have no king but Caesar!
Crucify him!

PILATE

What is this new respect for Caesar?
'Till now this has been noticeably lacking.
Who is this Jesus? Why is he different?
You choose Messiahs by the sackfull.

MOB

We need him crucified,
It's all you have to do.
We need him crucified,
It's all you have to do.

PILATE

Talk to me, Jesus Christ.
Look at your Jesus Christ.
I'll agree he's mad.
Ought to be locked up,
But that is not a reason to destroy him.
He's a sad little man.
Not a King or God.
Not a thief,
I need a crime!

MOB

Crucify him!

PILATE

Behold a man,
Behold your shattered King.

MOB

We have no King but Caesar.

PILATE

You hypocrites,
You hate us more than him.

MOB

We have no King but Caesar,
Crucify him!

PILATE

I see no reason. I find no evil.
This man is harmless, so why does he upset you?
He's just misguided, thinks he's important,
But to keep you vultures happy I shall flog him.

MOB

Crucify him! Crucify him!

(Thirty-nine lashes, Pilate counts)
PILATE

Where are you from Jesus?
What do you want Jesus?
Tell me.
You've got to be careful.
You could be dead soon,
Could well be.
Why do you not speak when
I hold your life in my hands?
How can you stay quiet?
I don't believe you understand.

JESUS

You have nothing in your hands.
Any power you have, comes to you from far beyond.
Everything is fixed, and you can't change it.

PILATE

You're a fool Jesus Christ.
How can I help you?

MOB

Pilate, Crucify him!
Remember Caesar.
You have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar.
You'll be demoted.
You'll be deported. Crucify him!

Remember Caesar.
You have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar.
You'll be demoted.
You'll be deported. Crucify him!

Remember Caesar.
You have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar.
You'll be demoted.
You'll be deported. Crucify him!

PILATE

Don't let me stop your great self-destruction.
Die if you want to, you misguided martyr.
I wash my hands of your demolition.
Die if you want to you innocent puppet!