Show Synopsis:
Godspell tells parables and stories from the Bible in a series of musical vignettes ending with The Passion of the Christ and a communal sense of love among Christ's disciples.
Character:
Due to the flexible structure and various stagings of Godspell, it is up to the director's discretion who performs this song and can be any character in the play. However, they all follow Jesus and his teachings and believe steadfastly in love and goodwill towards all men.
Song Context:
This song follows a scene that depicts the parable of the Sower of the Seeds, which Jesus says represent the Word of God.
Fun Facts:
1) Godspell was conceived as a master's thesis for writer John-Michael Tebelak at Carnegie Mellon University. CMU alumna Stephen Schwartz wrote and rewrote most of the score when the creators wanted to move it beyond CMU.
2) There is no specific setting in this play, so directors often take the chance to stage the action in unexpected places (museums, an old McDonalds, clasrooms, etc).
3) The cleverness of the lyrics in "All Good Gifts" impressed Leonard Bernstein, who asked Schwartz to work with him on lyrics for Mass.
"We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand.
He sends us snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above.
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love.
We thank thee then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seedtime and the harvest, our life our health our food.
No gifts have we to offer for all thy love imparts
But that which thou desirest, our humble thankful hearts!
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above.
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love.
I really wanna thank you Lord!"