Full Speed Ahead Lyrics - Epic: The Musical

Song Overview

Song Credits

• Song: Full Speed Ahead
• Artist: Jorge Rivera-Herrans, Cast of EPIC: The Musical, Steven Dookie & Armando Julián
• Album: EPIC: The Musical
• Track Number: 3
• Release Date: 2024?07?04
• Genre: Pop / Orchestral / Musical Theatre
• Writer: Jorge Rivera-Herrans
• Label: Winion Entertainment LLC
• Language: English
• Mood: Determined, anxious, adventurous
• © Winion Entertainment LLC

Song Meaning and Annotations

“Full Speed Ahead” is the musical’s engine revving up — a moment that captures both high-stakes urgency and a heartbeat of humanity. Odysseus, fresh from the ravages of Troy, takes command of his six hundred men with one target: home. But the gods, as always, love meddling, and hunger reroutes destiny once again.

Six hundred men, six hundred miles of open sea / But the problem’s not the distance — it’s what lies in between

Throughout EPIC: The Musical, the number 600 echoes like a heartbeat — the full fleet Odysseus sails with from Troy. It never shrinks in his words, even as his men begin to fall. In Homer’s epic, only one man makes it home: Odysseus. He keeps the number whole as a tribute — to hope, to denial, or to honor.

Ten years of war behind them, the sea ahead. It should be easy, right? But Odysseus knows better. Each mile forward is another myth waiting to strike.

His verses hum with the melody of Legendary — a song of his son, Telemachus. That tune returns here, like a mantra. He sings it not just for the journey, but for the home he aches to see.

His people don’t know if he’s alive. Ithaca holds its breath. Only Penelope still believes — that faith becomes refrain, a light that won’t extinguish.

Eurylochus enters the stage with weight. Odysseus’ second-in-command. His brother-in-law. His foil. Cautious where Odysseus is bold. Vocal, grounded, uncertain. And the crew stands with him. They echo his voice — literally. He speaks, they follow.

Jorge Rivera-Herrans described Eurylochus’ signature instrument as the crew itself — a chorus of loyalty, not just sound. Despite his doubts, he carries them. Leads them. Bleeds with them.

But doubt can be a crack in steel. While Odysseus trusts Eurylochus, their paths begin to split. That tension builds — rising toward Luck Runs Out and Mutiny.

Polites, by contrast, shines quieter. His name is spoken gently, fondly — only by Odysseus. He’s the dearest friend, the bright soul. Cheerful. Loyal. Hopeful.

He sees the glow of the island and believes in kindness. He sees light, not warning. But the faint shine foreshadows fate. His death comes in the Cyclops arc — a candle flickering before the dark.

Danger is Nearby — a motif hidden in the choir — warns what optimism cannot. Polites trusts, even when he shouldn’t.

The food shortage builds tension. Survival tightens around them all. Every choice becomes heavier. Every bite, every mistake, every delay — a seed for future collapse.

Odysseus, as always, plans for every outcome. A mind sharpened by Athena. A warrior of thought, not just sword.

Even unintended harmonies become fate. Jorge once revealed this song’s pivotal moment — a harmony born by accident, a track unmuted — but it fit. The soldiers, Odysseus, one voice. As if the gods arranged it.

This number moves with wind in its chest and war behind its eyes. It sings of hope, tension, and what’s yet to break.

Thematic Drive

This isn’t just a travel montage. It’s a lesson in leadership, desperation, and consequence. Odysseus is weighed down not just by miles, but mouths. Every decision holds the potential for disaster, and as tensions rise — especially with Eurylochus urging violence — diplomacy becomes the rarest resource.

Odyssean Duality

The piece turns on a dime between order and chaos. Eurylochus, ever the opportunist, wants swift, ruthless action. But Odysseus sees nuance in the firelight:

Something feels off here, I see fire but there's no smoke

That’s intuition at war with necessity. And just like that, a raid is delayed — for now. But the pressure is volcanic.

Musical Composition

The orchestration echoes marching drums and ocean swells. It's part battle cry, part sea shanty. Every repetition of “Full speed ahead” hits like a war chant, propelling not only ships but narrative urgency. There’s a theatrical momentum that feels like a musical cannonball hurtling toward whatever doom or salvation lies over the next wave.

Similar Songs

1. “Prologue” – Les Misérables
   Like “Full Speed Ahead,” this track sets the tone with urgency and moral conflict. Both feature protagonists thrust into survival roles, with the ensemble echoing their burdens and shaping their fate.
2. “The Battle” – Hamilton
   Lin-Manuel Miranda's warroom energy mirrors Rivera-Herrans’s drive. There’s clever leadership, inner tension, and explosive ensemble harmonies charging the air with historical intensity.
3. “Son of Man” – Tarzan (Phil Collins)
   This one's more optimistic, but thematically connected — the journey of transformation, challenge, and destiny. Odysseus and Tarzan both sail through metaphorical jungles toward a self yet defined.

Questions and Answers

What does the repetition of “six hundred men” signify?

It emphasizes the scale of responsibility Odysseus bears and foreshadows the eventual tragedy of only one returning home.

Why is Odysseus hesitant to raid the island?

He senses danger and hopes for a peaceful solution, revealing his wisdom and desire to minimize bloodshed.

Who is Eurylochus and why is he pushing for violence?

Eurylochus is Odysseus’s second-in-command. He’s pragmatic to a fault, driven by desperation and survival instinct.

What is the significance of “full speed ahead” as a phrase?

It’s a mantra of hope and determination — pushing through the fog of uncertainty toward home, despite risks.

How does this song fit into the arc of EPIC: The Musical?

It marks the transition from the war’s aftermath to the treacherous voyage — a tonal pivot from grief to grit.

Fan and Media Reactions

“This song is such a pump-up moment — it's Odysseus with war drums.” @mythoslover

“The constant ‘six hundred’ chant is tragic when you know the ending. Genius move.” @historyinmusicals

“This should be on every workout playlist. Absolute banger.” @gymwithgreeks

“Odysseus and Eurylochus are giving ancient Hamilton and Burr.” @bardbattles

“It’s not just a sea shanty — it’s a battle hymn of heartbreak.” @tragictrireme

The hype is real. Fans are rallying behind the militaristic musicality and the tension-heavy drama. Whether it’s the pulse-pounding repetition or Odysseus’s strategic depth, “Full Speed Ahead” is fast becoming a favorite in EPIC’s arsenal.