I Want To Be There Lyrics
I Want To Be There
[JUDGE, spoken]It is this court's decision
To award sole custody to Mrs. Hillard
[DANIEL, spoken]
No!
[JUDGE, spoken]
Mr. Hillard will have visitation rights
Once a week
[DANIEL, spoken]
Your honor! Once a week isn't enough!
I've been with them every day of their lives!
I'm sorry- I'm sorry
I just-
Permission to address the court. Please?
I need them sir and
They need me
[DANIEL]
Lydia's young still
But she's old enough
To start going down all the pathways of love
Some will be easy but some will be tough
A time she'll be swimming in oceans of anguish
A time she'll be dancing on air
Through all of her highs and her lows
I wanna be there
[JUDGE, spoken]
Thank you Mr. Hillard, now-
[DANIEL]
Natalie is som?thing
A beautiful child
A handful of wonder
A heartful of...wild!
And man sh? can light up a room with her smile
How can I go through a day
And not see that
In what world, would that ever be fair!
Well I know, is any world she inhabits
I wanna be there
So tell me! What should I do here
Tell me! What should I mount
Cause I'll do whatever it takes to hold on
They're all that I am
They're all that I've got
Chris is a pistol
And barrels of fun!
The bond that we're forming has only begun
He needs his father
And I need my son
Don't take away
All my reasons for living
It's more than I think I could bear
So look beyond any misgiving
You'll see there's a father who cares
Trying to make it all last
They grow up so fast!
And I need to!
I got to!
I wanna be there!
Please...
Let me be there...
[JUDGE, spoken]
Very well Mr. Hillard, I'll make this a temporary order
[DANIEL, spoken]
Thank you
[JUDGE, spoken]
In three months, we'll reconvene and
If you found a suitable place to live
And secured steady employment
And proving you can provide for the children's needs
Then joint-custody will be considered
I'll assign a Liaison to oversee your case
Court adjourned
Song Overview
Song Credits
- Featured: Rob McClure & Mrs. Doubtfire Original Broadway Cast
- Composer: Karey Kirkpatrick, Wayne Kirkpatrick
- Producer: Kevin McCollum
- Release Date: 2022-06-22
- Genre: Broadway / Pop
- Label: Broadway Records
- Track #: 2
- Album: Mrs. Doubtfire Original Broadway Cast Recording
- Language: English
Song Meaning and Annotations
“I Want To Be There” is the heartbeat of Mrs. Doubtfire — a stripped-down plea delivered by a man whose jokes have finally run out of runway. It's Daniel Hillard at his most exposed: no costumes, no puppets, no punchlines. Just a father, standing in a courtroom, begging not to become a memory.
The Courtroom as Confessional
The track opens mid-verdict. A gavel drops, and so does Daniel’s composure:
“Once a week isn't enough! I've been with them every day of their lives!”
His voice cracks under the weight of desperation. The judge’s sentence might as well be exile. Daniel doesn't try to argue the law — he tries to rewrite it with love.
Three Kids, Three Stories
Daniel structures his plea by spotlighting each child. It’s not just a legal strategy — it’s an emotional one. These aren’t vague sentiments. They’re personal manifestos.
“Lydia’s young still / But she’s old enough / To start going down all the pathways of love...”
He anticipates teenage heartbreak, joy, confusion — and wants to be her emotional anchor.
“Natalie is something / A beautiful child / A handful of wonder / A heartful of... wild!”
He describes Natalie like a force of nature — impossible to contain, unforgettable to miss.
“Chris is a pistol / And barrels of fun!”
Chris is the mirror in which Daniel sees his past and his paternal purpose.
Musical Shift, Emotional Crescendo
The orchestration swells with each new stanza — strings lifting the stakes, the melody rising like a father’s blood pressure in the face of loss. The tempo mimics urgency, the chords shadow the heartbreak. And then:
“I got to! I wanna be there! Please... Let me be there...”
He’s no longer speaking to the judge. He’s speaking to fate. And maybe, just maybe, to his kids' future selves.
Hope, by a Hair
The song ends not with triumph, but a glimmer:
“In three months, we’ll reconvene...”
The court gives him a shot — not out of pity, but because the song makes his love undeniable. His journey to redemption isn’t over. But he’s got the first step.
Similar Songs
- “Bring Him Home” – Les Misérables
Both are emotional ballads sung by father figures who feel powerless yet hopeful. Jean Valjean prays for Marius’s safety; Daniel pleads for time with his children. Both men ask for grace in the name of love — not because they’re flawless, but because they care. - “Dear Theodosia” – Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tribute to fatherhood mirrors Daniel’s sentiments. Both songs weave future hopes into present vulnerability. They are lullabies in disguise — soothing and trembling all at once. - “If I Didn’t Believe in You” – The Last Five Years
While sung to a spouse, this number shares Daniel’s mix of pleading, love, and quiet devastation. Both songs present emotionally raw men struggling to be understood by people drifting away from them.
Questions and Answers
- What is the emotional core of “I Want To Be There”?
- The song is a father’s raw plea to stay present in his children's lives. It’s a musical monologue filled with desperation, love, and a touch of hope — delivered with no comedic filter.
- How does the music support the lyrics?
- The orchestration builds gradually, mirroring Daniel’s emotional arc. From somber strings to swelling crescendos, it intensifies the urgency and heartbreak embedded in his words.
- Why does Daniel mention each child individually?
- By focusing on Lydia, Natalie, and Chris one by one, Daniel personalizes his plea, making it impossible to view his request as generic or selfish. Each verse reveals a specific bond and emotional investment.
- What makes this song different from others in the show?
- Unlike Daniel’s comedic numbers, this track is completely sincere. It strips away his jokester persona and reveals the man underneath — a flawed, devoted father trying to do better.
- What is the judge’s final ruling in the song?
- The judge grants temporary visitation and sets conditions Daniel must meet for joint custody, including stable housing and employment. It’s a bittersweet compromise — hope with homework.
Fan and Media Reactions
“This was the moment the whole theater went quiet. No laughs, just tears. Absolute gut punch.” – @stagefeels
“Rob McClure owns this song. You can hear him cracking, you can feel him pleading. Brutal and beautiful.” – @theaterjunkie91
“The specificity in this song makes it devastating. He doesn’t just want custody. He wants bedtime stories, scraped knees, dance recitals. He wants life.” – @dramaqueen13
“As a divorced dad, this song hit harder than I expected. I wasn’t ready.” – @dadonstage
“Finally, a Broadway ballad for the dads out there. No frills, just truth.” – @musicalmaven