I Will Never Leave You Lyrics - Side Show

Song Overview

Song Credits

• Featuring: Emily Skinner; Alice Ripley
• Producer: Harold Wheeler; Michael Berniker; Henry Krieger
• Composer: Henry Krieger; Bill Russell
• Release Date: December 9, 1997
• Genre: Pop; Musical Theater
• Language: English
• Track #: 23
• Album: Side Show (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
• Label: Masterworks Broadway

Song Meaning and Annotations

Stored within a graceful waltz and piano flourishes, the song text of “I Will Never Leave You” unfolds the intimate bond of Violet and Daisy Hilton. As conjoined twins cast in the curious glare of a 1930s freak show, their intertwined melodies trace fear and devotion in equal measure. Each line drifts between trepidation—“I’m scared, Daisy”—and steadfast promise—“I will never leave you”—mirroring tides of tension and tenderness in their shared life.

This duet usually lands just before intermission, halting spectacle to reveal a private plea for loyalty. Strings swell beneath the twins’ voices, sometimes shadowing their words, sometimes lifting them into light. Through simple imagery—tiptoes to peek over a sill, shadows stretching into night—the song text captures loneliness and comfort in alternating turns, creating a dramatic heartbeat that speaks to universal yearnings for belonging.

“If we stood on our tiptoes / We could peek over the sill”

Here the twins imagine a moment of freedom beyond their physical constraints, a small act of rebellion against the boundaries life imposed upon them.

“Evermore and always / We’ll be one though we’re two”

This refrain reaffirms unity: despite difference, their shared existence becomes a sanctuary rather than a prison.

Violet’s Opening Lines

Violet’s whispered question—“What have we done?”—frames the piece in uncertainty, while the curt response from Daisy—“Learned the truth”—hints at an inner resilience beneath their external plight.

Daisy’s Solo

Daisy’s zoo metaphor turns public curiosity into a source of introspection: when “children asking questions” make her wonder, the twins’ vulnerability becomes a mirror for audiences’ own need to look beneath the surface.

Duet Refrain

As their voices converge on “I will never go away,” the harmony itself enacts the solace they promise each other, forging a moment of shared strength.

Climax and Resolution

In the final sweep of repeated pledges—“I will never leave you”—the music fades into gentle certainty, leaving only the echo of devotion in its wake.

Similar Songs

1. “I Know Him So Well” by Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson
   This 1984 duet from Chess offers a parallel in shared narrative voice—two women reflecting on emotional risk. Paige and Dickson weave questions of trust and heartbreak through overlapping lines, much like Skinner and Ripley layer fear and loyalty in “I Will Never Leave You.” Both songs build from intimate solos into a duet refrain that underscores solidarity in vulnerability. The conversational back-and-forth and the emotional reveal through harmonies connect these theater moments across decades.
2. “Still Hurting” from The Last Five Years
   Cathy’s plaintive solo in Jason Robert Brown’s musical delves into heartbreak with raw minimalism—piano and vocal alone. While “I Will Never Leave You” is a duet, both tracks spotlight personal anguish laid bare, inviting audiences into protagonists’ private worlds. Each song uses spare arrangement to elevate emotional nuance, making every word in the song text feel charged with meaning.
3. “Somewhere” from West Side Story
   Bernstein and Sondheim’s anthem of hopeful refuge mirrors the Hilton twins’ yearning for acceptance. Though “Somewhere” soars with full orchestra, both numbers portray characters on the margins—star-crossed lovers or sideshow performers—seeking a place of belonging. The melodic uplift in each chorus offers a promise of sanctuary beyond societal confines, uniting musical theater’s boldest calls for compassion.

Questions and Answers

What is the story behind this duet?

It reveals Violet and Daisy Hilton’s pledge to remain united amid public spectacle and personal fear.

Who first performed this number on Broadway?

Emily Skinner (Daisy) and Alice Ripley (Violet) introduced it in the 1997 production.

What musical devices drive its emotional impact?

A simple waltz rhythm and swelling strings support the shifting dynamics of vulnerability and assurance.

How does the song reflect the twins’ circumstances?

Imagery of windows, sill, and shadows evokes both their physical limitations and their longing for normalcy.

Who composed and wrote the lyrics?

Music by Henry Krieger and lyrics by Bill Russell.

Awards and Chart Positions

• 1998 Tony Award nominee: Best Musical
• 1998 Tony Award nominee: Best Book of a Musical
• 1998 Tony Award nominee: Best Original Score
• 1998 Tony Award nominee: Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Emily Skinner; Alice Ripley)