An Existential Exegesis of "Defying Gravity"
I had an absolutely transcendent experience the other day. I spent two hours walking in the desert, listening to various versions of "Defying Gravity" (mostly the incredible new Cynthia Erivo version), and belting it out for the entire Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument to hear. I have always loved that song, but this was the first time that I realized the whole song--every single lyric--is a radical statement of existential philosophy. In my present existential situation, the song speaks to me in a very profound way. What's he talking about?? I'm so glad you asked!
"Something has changed within me
Something is not the same"
This is the feeling you get when you become aware of your existential condition.
"I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game"
When you become aware of your existential condition, you realize that you, and only you, are responsible for figuring out how to live in that condition. Other people's rules suddenly become meaningless. The only rules that count are the ones that you create for yourself. A liberating feeling!
"Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep"
Most people sleepwalk their way through life, because that's easier than confronting existential reality. But once you awaken to that reality, you can never go back to sleep again.
"It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap"
This is the existential leap of faith. Once you have decided what matters in your life, what has meaning and value, you have to leap blindly into the new reality which that decision creates. Terrifying!
"It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down"
This is the existential heart of the song. Nietzsche's Zarathustra was defying gravity way back in the 1880s. Zarathustra declares himself "an enemy of the spirit of gravity," for the spirit "lies about the soul," making it hard for man to discover himself (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Third Part, Chapter 11). This is why we must defy gravity: so we can discover our true selves.
"I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'til I try I'll never know"
The freedom (and responsibility) to set the rules for your own life means that you don't need to accept rules and limits set by other people. Indeed, you must reject those limits. This includes the arbitrary limits on gender and sexuality that society works so hard to enforce. And this is why it feels so radical when, for example, a cisgender straight man such as myself embraces his love of musical theater.
"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"
This is the one part of the song that doesn't apply directly to my situation. I'm afraid of many things, but one thing I don't fear at all is losing the love that Michelle and I share. Our love is god. We have been defying gravity together for twenty years, and that's not going to change until...
"I'd sooner die defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity"
For Heidegger, what makes us human is our ability to cultivate an authentic attitude towards death, or Being-towards-death. We become authentic people as we choose how we will approach death. Well, this is how I want to go out: defying gravity.
"So if you care to find me
Look to the Western sky
As someone told me lately,
Everyone deserves a chance to fly"
Let everyone else go through their own existential experience, finding their own values and meaning.
"And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free"
The project of discovering your existential freedom is, of necessity, a project that you must pursue alone (though you may be able to share some aspects of that project with fellow travelers).
"To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I'm defying gravity"
Some people will try to deny your existential freedom as well as their own. Sartre calls this bad faith. Against this, we insist upon our defiance of 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"
Much like the land of Oz, America is currently ruled by frauds, grifters, and con artists, one of whom is literally named Dr. Oz. Existential freedom is our best defense against fascism, as it was for the French existentialists during World War Two. For existential freedom is the one form of freedom that cannot be crushed by the liars, thieves and criminals to whom Americans have recently ceded political power.