Miracle Lyrics
Miracle
[LAVENDER]My mummy says I'm a miracle.
[ERIC]
My daddy says I'm his special little guy.
[ALICE]
I am a princess
[BRUCE]
And I am a prince.
[LAVENDER, AMANDA, ALICE, HORTENSIA]
Mum says I'm an angel sent down from the sky.
[BRUCE, ERIC]
My daddy says I'm his special little soldier.
No one is as handsome, strong as me.
It's true he indulges my tendency to bulge,
But I'm his little soldier!
Hop, 2-4-3!
[Chorus:][AMANDA, HORTENSIA]
My mummy says I'm a miracle.
One look at my face, and it's plain to see.
Ever since the day doc chopped the umbilical cord,
It's been clear there's no peer for a miracle like me!
[NIGEL, TOMMY]
My daddy says I'm his special little soldier.
No one is as bold or tough as me.
Has my daddy told you,
One day when I'm older,
I can be a soldier,
And shoot you in the face?
[ENTERTAINER]
One can hardly move for beauty and brilliance these days.
It seems that there are millions of these one-in-a-millions these days.
Special-ness seems de rigueur.
Above average is average - go figure.
Is it is some modern miracle of calculus,
That such frequent miracles don't render each one un-miraculous?
[Repeat Chorus]
My mummy says I'm a miracle.
One look at my face, and it's plain to see.
Ever since the day doc chopped the umbilical cord,
It's been clear there's no peer for a miracle like me!
[LAVENDER]
My mummy says I'm a precious barrelina.
She has never seen a prettier barrelina.
She says if I'm keen, I have to cut down on the cream,
But I'm a barrelina, SO GIVE ME MORE CAKE!
[MOTHER & FATHER ]
Take another picture of our angel in that costume that I made.
The role of tree has never been portrayed with such convincing sway.
That's right, honey, look at mummy!
Don't put honey on your brother.
Smile for mummy; smile for mother!
I think she blinked.
Well, take another!
Have you seen his school report? He got a 'C' on his report!
What?!
We'll have to change his school. That teacher's clearly falling short.
She's just delightful. So precarious and insightful.
[PARENTS]
Might she be a little brighter than the norm?
I know to boys it's frightful form!
[CHILDREN & PARENTS]
(Take another!)
My mummy says I'm a miracle.
(She looks lovely in this light.)
One look at my face, and it's plain to see.
(Honey... Honey...)
Ever since the day doc chopped the umbilical cord,
(Don't put honey on your brother.)
It's been clear there's no peer for a miracle like me!
My mummy says I'm a miracle.
That I'm as tiny and as shiny as a mirror ball.
You can be all cynical, but it's a truth empirical.
There's never been a miracle, a miracle, a miracle as me!
[Interlude]
[DOCTOR, spoken]
A baby Mrs. Wormwood, a child, the most
Precious gift the natural world can
Bestow upon us has been handed to you. A
Brand new human being, a life, a person
A wonderful new person is about to come
Into your life and bring you love and
Magic and happiness and wonder
[MRS. WORMWOOD]
Oh! Bloody 'ell!
[DOCTOR]
Every life I bring into this world restores my faith in humankind.
[MIDWIFE, spoken]
Push Mrs. Wormwood, push!
[MRS. WORMWOOD, spoken]
I'll push you in a minute!
[DOCTOR]
Each new-born life, a canvas yet unpainted...
This still unbroken skin...
This uncorrupted mind...
[Bridge:]
Every life is unbelievably unlikely.
The chances of existence, almost infinitely small.
The most common thing in life is life,
And yet every single life bearing new life is a miracle!
Miracle!
[Interlude]
[MRS. WORMWOOD, spoken]
This is the worst day of my life!
Oh, my undercarriage doesn't feel quite normal.
My skin looks just revolting in this foul fluorescent light,
And this gown is nothing like the semi-formal, semi-Spanish gown
I should be wearing in the semi-finals tonight.
I should be dancing the tarantella -
Cui buon fare Italiano. [Italian: With good Italian manner]
Not dressed in hospital cotton,
With a smarting front bottom,
And this horrible -
[DOCTOR]
(Miracle!)
Smelly little -
[DOCTOR]
(Miracle!)
Weakly little bowl of fat!
(What the hell was that?)
Would someone give this thing a bottle?
Or swap it for a later model!
[MR. WORMWOOD & MRS. WORMWOOD]
Why do bad things always happen to good people?
Fine, upstanding citizens like you and me?
Why, when we've done nothing wrong,
Should this disaster come along?
This horrible, weird-looking,
Hairy little stinky feet...
With no sign of a winky-dink at all!
Miracle! Miracle!
She's a miracle!
A Miracle!
Every life's a miracle!
The most beautiful miracle I have ever seen!
[MR. WORMWOOD]
I can't find his frank and beans!
[DOCTOR]
Every life is unbelievably unlikely
The chances of existence, almost infinitely small
The most common thing in life is life
And yet every single life, every new life is a miracle!
Miracle! Miracle!
[CHILDREN]
My mummy says I'm a miracle
One look at my face, and it's plain to see
Ever since the day doc chopped the umbilical cord
It's been clear there's no peer for a miracle like me!
My mummy says I'm a miracle
That I'm as tiny and as shiny as a mirror ball
You can be all cynical, but it's a truth empirical
There's never been a miracle, a miracle, a miracle as ...
[MATILDA]
My mummy says I'm a lousy little worm
My daddy says I'm a bore
My mummy says I'm a jumped-up little germ
That kids like me should be against the law
My daddy says I should learn to shut my pie hole
No one likes a smart-mouthed girl like me
Mum says I'm a good case for population control
Dad says I should watch more TV
Song Overview
Song Credits
- Producer: Chris Nightingale & Tim Minchin
- Composer: Tim Minchin
- Orchestration: Chris Nightingale
- Keyboards: Bruce O’Neil
- Recording Engineer & Mastering Engineer: Rupert Coulson
- Recorded at: AIR Studios, London
- Release Date: 2011-09-13
- Genre: Musical Theatre, Pop
- Album: Matilda The Musical (Original London Cast Recording)
- Language: English
Song Meaning and Annotations
Every child’s a miracle. Or so we’re told…
“Miracle,” the raucous opener from Matilda the Musical, sets the stage for a tale of contradiction — between expectation and reality, between idealized children and real, rough-edged humanity. This ensemble number, laced with biting satire, serves not just as a curtain-raiser but as a cultural critique dressed up in sparkly ballet shoes and school uniforms. The number bombards the audience with declarations of parental pride. Children proclaim:“My mummy says I’m a miracle / One look at my face, and it’s plain to see”as if the mere existence of youth equals exceptionalism. The musical pokes fun at this overzealous flattery — a modern trend of helicopter parenting and unconditional praise taken to absurd levels. But under the glitter and gags lies something deeper. Composer and lyricist Tim Minchin cleverly juxtaposes these “miracles” with Matilda’s bleak introduction:
“My mummy says I’m a lousy little worm / My daddy says I’m a bore”and boom — the house of mirrors shatters. That moment is where the show earns its tonal stripes, flipping from irony to honesty like a well-rehearsed pirouette. The song uses humor to dissect gender norms, too. Boys are “little soldiers,” primed for combat, proud to someday “shoot you in the face.” Girls, meanwhile, twirl as “precious barrelinas,” daintily dodging dietary restrictions — a sharp jab at how gendered expectations are baked into praise.
The Probability Paradox and Philosophical Underpinnings
Tim Minchin, a mathematics-obsessed satirist at heart, threads a clever philosophical contradiction here. The song both mocks the overuse of the word “miracle” and, through the doctor’s poetic monologue, affirms that each life truly is one:“Every life is unbelievably unlikely / The chances of existence almost infinitely small”It’s this duality that fuels the number: we are all improbable. But when everyone’s a miracle, is anyone? And there’s musical math in the mix too — the use of chromaticism in an otherwise diatonic key adds a jazz-like sophistication. These motifs echo in later tracks, like “Naughty” and “When I Grow Up,” tying themes of agency and potential across the score.
Similar Songs
-
“Welcome to the Rock” – Come From Away (Original Cast)
Both songs open their respective musicals with a tone-setting ensemble piece. While “Miracle” mocks parental overindulgence, “Welcome to the Rock” throws the audience into communal resilience in Newfoundland post-9/11. Tonally different, yes, but both are narrative-launchers loaded with context. -
“It’s Your Wedding Day” – The Wedding Singer (Original Broadway Cast)
Like “Miracle,” this song uses exaggeration and character-driven humor to expose delusion — in this case, wedding day optimism turned sour. Both use irony and chorus-wide enthusiasm to mask underlying chaos. -
“Circle of Life” – The Lion King (Original Broadway Cast)
Philosophically, this is the closest cousin. Both tackle birth and the supposed sanctity of new life. But while “Miracle” subverts with sarcasm, “Circle of Life” exalts — they’re twin sides of the same coin, one dipped in gold, the other in ink.
Questions and Answers
- What is the main theme of “Miracle” from Matilda the Musical?
- It explores the irony of modern parenting, where every child is told they’re extraordinary, contrasted with Matilda’s reality of being unloved and overlooked.
- Why is Matilda’s verse different from the rest of the children’s in the song?
- Her verse introduces the audience to the true emotional core of the story — she’s not seen as a “miracle,” setting her apart from her peers and hinting at the challenges ahead.
- How does “Miracle” comment on gender roles?
- It uses children’s lines to reflect how parents push gender stereotypes, with boys aspiring to be aggressive “soldiers” and girls being encouraged to be dainty ballerinas.
- What role does the Doctor’s monologue play in the song?
- It injects philosophical weight, arguing that all life is statistically miraculous, contrasting and complicating the song’s earlier satire.
- What musical techniques stand out in “Miracle”?
- The song blends bright, catchy melodies with chromatic notes to add texture, and uses recurring motifs that appear throughout the musical for thematic cohesion.
Awards and Chart Positions
- Matilda the Musical won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2012.
- Tim Minchin received a nomination for Best Original Score at the Tony Awards 2013.
- The Original Cast Recording charted on the UK Official Albums Chart shortly after release.
Fan and Media Reactions
“The way this song flips between satire and sincerity is brilliant. I laughed and then immediately felt sad for Matilda.”— YouTube user @BookishBard
“Tim Minchin really gets how to write clever musical theatre songs — this is a roast of modern parenting wrapped in a Disney-like melody.”— YouTube user @StageLover89
“The harmonies are so tight, and the lyrics hilarious. But that moment when Matilda sings? Gut punch.”— YouTube user @HarmonyJunkie
“No song captures the ironic optimism of adult delusion like this one. So many kids think they’re the next Einstein because mummy says so.”— TheatreReviewBlog
“‘Miracle’ is one of those rare opening numbers that is both entertaining and essential. It tells you everything about the world of the show in three minutes.”— West End Critic @BackRowSeats