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Portia

by Devon More

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about

Commissioned by Western Canada Theatre and Musical TheatreWorks for 'Lady Macbeth and the Not Quite Dead' - a collection of songs (and videos) written in the voices of 17 female characters that get killed off in William Shakespeare's plays.
Portia is the politically savvy wife of Brutus in 'Julius Caesar'. Brutus ignores her counsel and concern as he secretly plots to assassinate Caesar—Et tu, Brute?—thereby igniting a civil war. Intelligent, loyal, but left wholly in the dark: Portia ultimately kills herself - by swallowing fire..!

lyrics

we all must pick our ship
every sailor does this
set yourself adrift
with all your ambition anchored to it
this ship

for every woman it’s so
to set sail you must let go
step aboard, leave home
never know where the wind will blow

never know
if the boat is fit to float
or if the captain can keep his course
no remorse
you hoped for better
but you said “for better or worse”
so
walk tall Portia
though you’re sure to get hurt
walk through fire
eat hot coals for dessert
it’s your turn to be the girl
who’s getting burned in a man’s world

c’mon show me some respect
don’t torture me with your secrets
I’d stab myself in the leg to prove my worth for the truth I beg

what - don’t you want a wife?
or just a harlot to play nice
sit and smile while you set the ship alight?

walk tall Portia
though you’re sure to get hurt
walk through fire
eat hot coals for dessert
it’s your turn to be the girl
who’s getting burned in a man’s world

don’t hold your breath
don’t hold your breath
when you said it best yourself
I love the name of honour more than I fear death

walk tall Portia
though you’re sure to get hurt
walk through fire
eat hot coals for dessert
you're not the first but it’s your turn to be the girl
who’s getting burned in a man’s world

look at their shock and outrage
why so surprised and dismayed?
et tu, Brute?
would you let a life end this way?

why don’t you ask his lady
is the good lord to blame?
there are no tricks in plain and simple faith

(what’d she say? what’d she say?)
oh no
I wouldn’t
I couldn’t possibly say
I bit my tongue and burned it away
I lost my voice then set it aflame
oh my lord
my ambition’s debt is paid

I walk tall
I’m Portia
even though I get hurt
I walk through fire
I eat hot coals for dessert
I can be the girl to choose how I get burned
in a man’s world

credits

released March 27, 2021
Music & Lyrics by Devon More

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Devon More Vancouver, British Columbia

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