7 July 2025
Mild Monday - "Is Anybody There?" from 1776
As we wind up this 4th of July weekend, I’m going to indulge myself by posting my favorite song from the musical 1776: “Is Anybody There?”
This musical, written by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone, premiered on Broadway in 1969, and the film version came out in 1972. Impressively—and rather unusually—the majority of the stage actors reprised their roles in the film, including William Daniels as John Adams. It is a fictional depiction (with dialogue based largely on letters written by the main characters) of the debate leading to the adoption of The Declaration of Independence. The approach of the country’s 200 birthday was clearly being met with a lot more enthusiasm than our upcoming 250th next year.
This song is my favorite of all the musical’s numbers for two reasons. One is that I identify strongly with John Adams (“I’m obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir”). The other is that I’ve frequently felt the despair he expresses in the song—the feeling that few understand what vision drives him.
This song comes at the lowest point of the plot, and the darkness of the set is meant to reflect that. The delegations of the South have walked out, threatening to vote against the Declaration unless the paragraph about slavery is removed. All of John Adams’ allies appear to have accepted defeat. John is figuratively as well as literally alone in the Congressional chamber.
“Is anybody there?”
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?
They want to me to quit; they say,
John, give up the fight.
Still to England I say,
Good night, forever, good night!
For I have crossed the Rubicon;
Let the bridge be burned behind me
Come what may, come what may.
Commitment!
The croakers all say, we’ll rue the day;
There’ll be hell to pay in fiery purgatory.
Through all the gloom, through all the gloom
I see the rays of ravishing light and glory!
Is anybody there? Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?
I see fireworks! I see the pageant and
Pomp and parade.
I hear the bells ringing out.
I hear the cannons roar.
I see Americans—all Americans—
Free forever more!
How quiet, how quiet the chamber is.
How silent, how silent the chamber is.
Is anybody there? Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?
Thoughts?
Quite rousing. Vigorously shook me out out of my groggy morning fog! I couldn't help but fast forward in my mind to Adams and Jefferson's later difficulties with the Jihadists.......
John Adams is my favorite Founding Father. His 1,000 and Abigail’s 2,000 letters transport one to the background of building the Declaration of Independence. I continue to be amazed that our country was founded and continues to live despite very dangerous events.