"What is This Feeling" also known as "Loathing"

Lyrics, Sheet Music, Stories From the hit Broadway musical Wicked

"What Is This Feeling" Sheet Music

WHAT IS THIS FEELING (Loathing)

What is This Feeling (Loathing) - Easy piano | What is This Feeling - Piano/vocal

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"What Is This Feeling" Story about Wicked's Development

See The Inspiration for "What Is This Feeling" - a Wicked history article

"What Is This Feeling" lyrics from the script

ACT ONE, Scene 3.

GALINDA enters, on the other side of the stage from Elphaba. Both face front, as if writing letters home.

GALINDA
Dearest darlingest Momsie and Popsical...

ELPHABA
My dear Father...

BOTH
THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION
OVER ROOMING HERE AT SHIZ ...

ELPHABA
BUT OF COURSE, I'LL CARE FOR NESSA ...

GALINDA
BUT OF COURSE, I'LL RISE ABOVE IT ...

BOTH
FOR I KNOW THAT'S HOW YOU'D WANT ME TO RESPOND
YES, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION
FOR YOU SEE, MY ROOM-MATE IS …

Both pause, regard each other, trying to find the words ...

GALINDA
UNUSUALLY AND EXCEEDINGLY PECULIAR
AND ALTOGETHER QUITE IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE ...

ELPHABA
(after a beat)
BLONDE.

GALINDA
WHAT IS THIS FEELING
SO SUDDEN AND NEW?

ELPHABA
I FELT THE MOMENT
I LAID EYES ON YOU ...

GALINDA
MY PULSE IS RUSHING ...

ELPHABA
MY HEAD IS REELING ...

GALINDA
MY FACE IS FLUSHING ...

BOTH
WHAT IS THIS FEELING?
FERVID AS A FLAME
DOES IT HAVE A NAME?
YES!:
LOATHING
UNADULTERATED LOATHING ...

GALINDA
FOR YOUR FACE...

ELPHABA
YOUR VOICE ...

GALINDA
YOUR CLOTHING ...

BOTH
LET'S JUST SAY -- I LOATHE IT ALL!
EV'RY LITTLE TRAIT, HOWEVER SMALL
MAKES MY VERY FLESH BEGIN TO CRAWL
WITH SIMPLE UTTER LOATHING
THERE'S A STRANGE EXHILARATION
IN SUCH TOTAL DETESTATION
IT'S SO PURE! SO STRONG!
THOUGH I DO ADMIT IT CAME ON FAST
STILL I DO BELIEVE THAT IT CAN LAST
AND I WILL BE LOATHING
LOATHING YOU
MY WHOLE LIFE LONG!

STUDENTS
DEAR GALINDA, YOU ARE JUST TOO GOOD!
HOW DO YOU STAND IT? I DON'T THINK I COULD!
SHE'S A TERROR! SHE'S A TARTAR!
WE DON'T MEAN TO SHOW A BIAS
BUT GALINDA YOU'RE A MARTYR!

GALINDA
WELL ... THESE THINGS ARE SENT TO TRY US!

STUDENTS
POOR GALINDA, FORCED TO RESIDE
WITH SOMEONE SO DISGUSTICIFIED
WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU:
WE'RE ALL ON YOUR SIDE!
WE SHARE YOUR ...

___
GALINDA AND ELPHABA sing simultaneously with students [see their part below]

WHAT IS THIS FEELING
SO SUDDEN AND NEW?
I FELT THE MOMENT
I LAID EYES ON YOU
MY PULSE IS RUSHING
MY HEAD IS REELING
OH, WHAT IS THIS FEELING?

DOES IT HAVE A NAME?

YES …

STUDENTS:
LOATHING
UNADULTERATED LOATHING
FOR HER FACE, HER VOICE
HER CLOTHING
LET'S JUST SAY:
WE LOATHE IT ALL!

EV'RY LITTLE TRAIT
HOWEVER SMALL

MAKES OUR VERY FLESH
BEGIN TO CRAWL …

ALL:
AHHH …
LOATHING!

GALINDA AND ELPHABA:

[Here students sing "Loathing" in counter point a number of times]

THERE'S A STRANGE EXHILARATION
IN SUCH TOTAL DETESTATION
SO PURE, SO STRONG!

STUDENTS
SO STRONG!

GALINDA AND ELPHABA
(Students sing back-up "loathing")
THOUGH I DO ADMIT IT CAME ON FAST
STILL I DO BELIEVE THAT IT CAN LAST ALL
AND I WILL BE LOATHING
FOR FOREVER LOATHING
TRULY, DEEPLY LOATHING YOU LOATHING YOU
FOR MY WHOLE LIFE LONG!

STUDENTS:
UNADULTERATED LOATHING

ELPHABA
BOO!

More about "What Is This Feeling"

What's happening during this scene? If you haven't seen the show, For more information about the songs in Wicked visit the Wicked Songs page. To read about the musical influences for "What Is This Feeling" and other Schwartz songs, visit schwartz-musical-influences

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