Go With The Flow Lyrics – Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure

Song Overview

Review and Highlights

I hear a playful collision: Santana-leaning guitar and percussion riding a Broadway pop chassis. El Gato struts in Spanish-accented patter, Alice fires back, and the band slides into a sunlit 16th-note groove. The hook does what hooks are paid to do. It’s a palate cleanser in Act I - a reminder that this Wonderland keeps one foot in New York traffic and the other in a dance club.

Highlights

• Groove-first arrangement - guitar-forward, buoyant pulse, quick percussive interlocks.
• Character chemistry - El Gato mentors, Alice recalibrates; their call-and-response keeps stakes light but pointed.
• Code-switch sparkle - Spanish phrases fold into English lines, telegraphing El Gato’s swagger and welcoming vibe.
• Staging-friendly hook - the refrain begs for choreographic lift and crowd energy.

Creation History

Composed by Frank Wildhorn with lyrics by Jack Murphy, the number was recorded for the Wonderland: A New Alice (Original Broadway Cast Recording) on Masterworks Broadway. Producers on the album: Frank Wildhorn, David Lai, and Jason Howland. Release landed in early May 2011, aligning with the Broadway run’s spring window. Studio coverage showed the principals - including Dacal and Llana - tracking in New York just before opening.

Song Meaning and Annotations

Plot

Act I. New York writer Alice hits Wonderland running, rattled and second-guessing herself. El Gato - a Cheshire Cat reimagined as a streetwise bandleader - clocks her stress, calls over his crew, and turns a pep talk into a party. The lesson is kinetic: stop overthinking, move, trust the body first. By the last refrain, Alice is physically in the groove and mentally loosening her grip. The story doesn’t solve her life; it oils the hinges.

Song Meaning

The message is self-repair through momentum. Don’t over-analyze, don’t fight the current - step in, breathe, listen, and let intuition steer. The mood starts teasing and turns gently directive, never preachy. In context, it’s Alice’s first real exhale in Wonderland, a reset before the plot sharpens again.

Annotations

“EL GATO”

El Gato literally means “The Cat.” Here he’s styled like a cool-bandleader Cheshire - suit with a tail, fedora with ears - a guide who can grin and groove at once.

“Bienvenidos”

Spanish for “Welcome.” El Gato frames his corner as a hangout, a softer on-ramp than the Queen’s court.

“Say buenos días to the rest of the gang”

Another Spanish cue - community first. His “cats and kittens” sing around the edges, building that street-cypher vibe.

“The best laid plan of the mouse and man”

A wink at Robert Burns’ line about how plans “gang aft agley.” Translation: control is a myth; adapt in real time.

“Sink or swim”

Yes, funny for a cat. The line bounces on that irony to sell the mantra: jump in anyway.

“Where you go with the flow”

Onstage, the friends spritz Alice’s shoes with “dancing spray,” nudging her from theory into motion.

“You used to be the best muchacha there was”

Muchacha means girl. He’s pointing back to pre-grief Alice - the kid before life sped up.

“The you you used to be you gotta go find”

That’s the thesis: recover the earlier self that got parked when loss and adulthood crowded in.

Amigos

Friends. The quest isn’t solo - White Rabbit, Jack, Caterpillar, El Gato - community is the safety net.

“Shut up and listen to what’s missin’”

Tough love. Quiet the commentary track long enough to hear what’s true.

“Don’t need a lesson… don’t need a Ph.D”

Healing isn’t academic here. Feel first, sort later.

“It’s a guitar”

After a solo, El Gato deadpans that his tail is a guitar. A gag, sure - but also a cue that play is medicine.

“Five, six, seven, eight!”

Classic dance count-in. The music kicks back, and Alice is already lighter on her feet.

[CATS, KITTENS] “You don’t fight the tide… let your intuition be your guide.”

The backing chorus states the ethic cleanly. In this world, instinct beats overplanning.

Style, production, touchpoints

Genre fusion sits at the core: Latin-rock guitar figures, hand-percussion accents, and Broadway-ready vocal stacking. The emotional arc starts as a breezy roast of Alice’s stress, pivots into friendly instruction, and lands on release. Cultural touchstones - Spanish slang; a Santana-like feel - align El Gato with pan-Latin cool. Production choices favor clarity: crisp rhythm section, tight call-and-response, and a chorus designed for choreography.

Key Facts

• Artist: Janet Dacal, Jose Llana, Wonderland Ensemble
• Composer: Frank Wildhorn
• Lyricist: Jack Murphy
• Producers (album): Frank Wildhorn, David Lai, Jason Howland
• Release Date (cast album): May 3, 2011
• Genre: Musical theatre with Latin-rock/pop coloration
• Instruments (recording): guitars, bass, keyboards, drums/percussion
• Label: Masterworks Broadway (Sony Music Entertainment)
• Mood: upbeat, encouraging, lightly mischievous
• Length: 3:44
• Track #: 7 on the Original Broadway Cast Recording
• Language: English with Spanish phrases
• Album: Wonderland: A New Alice (Original Broadway Cast)
• Music style: groove-led Latin rock fused with Broadway pop

Questions and Answers

When did Frank Wildhorn release “Go With The Flow”?

It arrived with the Wonderland Original Broadway Cast Recording on May 3, 2011.

Who wrote “Go With The Flow”?

Music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy.

Who performs it on the Broadway album?

Jose Llana as El Gato with Janet Dacal as Alice, plus the Wonderland Ensemble.

Is there a notable cover or alternate version?

Yes - Thomas Borchert recorded it for the concert album Frank Wildhorn & Friends in late 2011.

Where does the song sit in the show’s story?

Act I. El Gato’s scene-stealing pep talk loosens Alice up and resets her arc before the plot tightens.

Awards and Chart Positions

• Astaire Awards nomination: Marguerite Derricks - Outstanding Choreographer in a Broadway Show (2011)
• Album release milestone: Original Broadway Cast Recording issued May 3, 2011 on Masterworks Broadway

Additional Info