Here within These Walls is a musical number from the stage adaptation of Sister Act originally sung by Shelia Hancock in the original London production. Here, the Mother Superior explains the worlds of the convent to Deloris, expecting to respect its rules and philosophy while she remains in hiding until her court date.
In the original London production, it is reprised in Act 2 after the nuns find out Deloris isn't actually nun. Mother Superior is glad that things will go back to the way it was before though it is evident she will miss her. The reprise is cut from the Broadway production in favor of a new solo number called "Haven't Got a Prayer".
It the Broadway transfer, the main key changed to accommodate actress Victoria Clark's vocals and Deloris is given solo near the end of the song reflecting her dread of staying in the convent. These changes have remained since their introduction.
Lyrics[]
Mother Superior: Outside, life's a mess.
No one's pure of spirit any longer.
There's no wrong or right,
just wrong and wronger
People have amused themselves to death.
Outside, life is grim.
Filled with smut and scandal to the brim.
I suppose there may be room for Him -
Frankly, I don't plan to hold my breath.
But here within these walls,
Days are filled with grace.
God is in his place,
His wisdom still respected.
Here within these walls,
Life has a different pace
From life beyond our doors.
And for what it's worth,
This life's now yours!
Outside all is vice.
People now are absolutely shameless.
Most, including those who shall be nameless.
Hardly seem to know or even care.
Outside, all is sin.
And I won't have the outside coming in.
Trust me, it's a battle you won't win -
Frankly, dear, you haven't got a prayer.
Here within these walls,
Life is sweet and good.
Faith is understood,
And selfishness rejected.
Here within these walls
Work, prayer, and sisterhood
Are what life's built upon.
That's how it will stay,
Or else you're gone!
So put aside your gluttony!
Put aside your pride!
As for carnal lust,
You need a break, I trust.
Put it all aside!
Put aside intemperance!
Profanity as well!
Put aside each remnant of your former worldly shell.
Mother Superior/Nuns: Here within these walls, (Ave)
All is stripped away.
Surrender and obey, (Maria)
That's all that is expected.
Here within these walls, (gratia)
All else is kept at bay.
Through the world may go astray, (plena)
Here eternal truths hold sway.
Here within these walls, (Salve Regina)
Life is truly blessed! (Mater misericordiae)
Here you're God's own guest (vita, dulcedo)
celestially protected.(et spes nostra salve).
Here within these walls,
All's for the very best,
And always shall be thus
And if heaven's will be done,
Here she'll just be one more nun, (Salve Regina)
Safe within these walls as one of us!
(salve, salve, amen.)
Mother Superior: Outside, life's a mess.
No one's pure of spirit any longer.
There's no wrong or right,
just wrong and wronger
People have amused themselves to death.
Outside, life is grim.
Filled with smut and scandal to the brim.
I suppose there may be room for Him -
Frankly, I don't plan to hold my breath.
But here within these walls,
Days are filled with grace.
God is in his place,
His wisdom still respected.
Here within these walls,
Life has a different pace
From life beyond our doors.
And for what it's worth,
This life's now yours!
[...]
Outside all is vice.
People now are absolutely shameless.
Most, including those who shall be nameless.
Hardly seem to know or even care.
Outside, all is sin.
And I won't have the outside coming in.
Trust me, it's a battle you won't win -
Frankly, dear, you haven't got a prayer.
[...]
So put aside your gluttony!
Put aside your pride!
As for carnal lust,
You need a break, I trust.
Put it all aside!
Put aside intemperance!
Profanity as well!
Put aside each remnant of your former worldly shell.
Mother Superior: Here within these walls, (Ave)
Deloris: (Christ on a stick, what holy mess)
Mother Superior: All is stripped away.
Deloris: (Look at this huge freakin' penguin dress)
Mother Superior: Surrender and obey, (Maria)
Deloris: (Look at this place, this is Hell I guess)
Mother Superior: That's all that is expected.
Deloris: (So un-fabulous baby)
Mother Superior: Here within these walls, (gratia)
Deloris: (Stuck in this dump with that Jesus freak)
Mother Superior: All else is kept at bay.
Deloris: (There ain't no way that I'll last a week)
Mother Superior: Through the world may go astray, (plena)
Deloris: (I'm too fabulous baby)
Mother Superior: Here eternal truths hold sway.
Mother Superior: Here within these walls, (Salve Regina)
Life is truly blessed! (Mater misericordiae)
Here you're God's own guest (vita, dulcedo)
celestially protected.(et spes nostra salve).
Here within these walls,
All's for the very best,
And always shall be thus
And if heaven's will be done,
Here she'll just be one more nun, (Salve Regina)
Safe within these walls as one of us!
(salve, salve, amen.)
Outside, that's her place.
All in all, it's surely for the better.
Given time and prayer, you'll soon forget her.
Still it won't be easy, I can tell.
Outside she shall go.
And somehow we will stumble through her show.
The pope won't be amused, but even so -
May he bless you all, and her as well.
And here within these walls, once we're free of her,
We'll be as we were - completely unaffected.
Here within these walls, safe from the worldly stir, we'll stay as God arranged.
She will be all right I'll pray.
Heaven speed her on her way.
But here within these walls, we'll stay unchanged.
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