Those You've Known by John Gallagher Jr., Lea Michele, and Jonathan Groff



There are many songs I could listen to endlessly. I can often be found looping my favorite artists, listening to my favorite songs over and over again. But I suppose if I had to choose one, it would have to be my favorite song from my favorite musical.

I feel a need to post these lyrics, because to me the are so stunningly beautiful and truthful. Yes the music is beautiful as well, with its amazing string section and piano arrangement, but what makes this song so meaningful to me is the lyrics.

"Those you’ve known
And lost, still walk behind you
All alone
They linger till they find you

Without them
The world grows dark around you
And nothing is the same until you know that they have found you

WENDLA
Those you’ve pained
May carry that still with them
All the same
They whisper: “All forgiven.”

Still your heart says
The shadows bring the starlight
And everything you’ve ever been is still there in the dark night

WENDLA
When the northern wind blows
The sorrows your heart holds
There are those who still know –
They’re still home
We’re still home

MORITZ (Sung In Counterpart)
Though you know
You’ve left them far behind
You walk on by yourself, and not with them –

Still you know
They will fill your heart and mind
When they say there’s a way through this

MELCHIOR, MORITZ AND WENDLA
Those you’ve known
And lost, still walk behind you
All alone
Their song still seems to find you

They call you
As if you knew their longing –
They whistle through the lonely wind, the long blue shadows falling

MELCHIOR
All alone
But still I hear their yearning
Through the dark, the moon, alone there, burning

The stars too
They tell of spring returning –
And summer with another wind that no one yet has known

(MORITZ and WENDLA Join with Counterparts)

They call me –
Through all things –
Night’s falling
But somehow I go on

You watch me
Just watch me –
I’m calling
From longing

WENDLA (Sung in Counterpart)
When the northern wind blows
The sorrows your heart’s known –
I believe…

MORITZ (Sung in Counterpart)
Still you known
There’s so much more to find –
Another dream, another love you’ll hold

Still you know
To trust your own true mind
On your way – you are not alone
There are those who still know

MELCHIOR (Sung Alone)
Now they’ll walk on my arm through the distant night
And I won’t let them stray from my heart
Through the wind, through the dark, through the winter light
I will read all their dreams to the stars

I'll walk now with them
I’ll call on their names
I’ll see their thoughts are known

WENDLA
Not gone –
Not gone –

MELCHIOR
They walk with my heart –
And I'll never let them go

I’ll never let them go
I’ll never let them go
You watch me
Just watch me
I’m calling
I’m calling –
And one day all will know"