"Now or Never" is the opening song in the feature film High School Musical 3: Senior Year and its soundtrack. It is performed by the Wildcats, being sung mainly by Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) and briefly by Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens).
Summary[]
The East High Wildcats basketball team trail the West High Knights in the championship game of the season. During the last sixteen minutes to the end of the game, the Wildcats, lead by Troy (Zac Efron) sing about how this game can change their lives forever. The West High Knights cheerleaders, the Wildcats cheerleaders and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) also sing parts of the song to help their respective teams. In the end, Troy leads the team to the victory.
The version shown in the movie is slightely shorter than the full version available on the soundtrack. The song also appears as part of the number "Senior Year Spring Musical" lead by Chad (Corbin Bleu).
Lyrics[]
Wildcats:
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
Minutes left better get it done
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
More minutes get ready game on
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
Minutes left running out of time
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
More minutes seconds on the line
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
Minutes left got to get it done
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
More minutes till we're number ones
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
W-I-L-D wildcats
You know you're on
W-I-L-D wildcats
Come on come on
West High Knight Cheerleaders:
West High Knights (yeah!)
Yeah, we're doing it right (oh yeah)
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
W-I-L-D Wildcats
Now's the time
Troy:
Got to get an inside down low
In the pain now shoot score (defense)
Got to work it together
Gimme the ball, gimme the ball, gimme the ball (fast break)
(Keep the ball in control)
Let it fly from downtown (three more)
Show them we can do it better (no way)
Go, go, go come on boys (wildcats)
The way we play tonight (yeah)
Is what we leave behind (that's right)
It all comes down to right (West High)
Now it's up to us (let's go)
So what are we gonna be (gonna be?)
T-E-A-M Team
Got to work it out turn it on (come on)
This is the last time to get it right (go)
This is the last chance to make it or not, yeah
We got to show what we're all about (team, wildcats)
Work together (go)
This is the last chance to make our mark (hoops)
History will know who we are (who we are)
This is the last game so make it count it's
Now or never
Gabriella: Troy!
Troy: Right now I can hardly breathe
Gabriella: Oh, you can do it just know that I believe
Troy: And that's all I really need
Gabriella: Then come on
Troy: Make me strong
It's time to turn it up
Game on
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
Wildcats go tear it up
Go wildcats
Yeah we're number one
Hey wildcats we're the champions
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, team go
West High Knight Cheerleaders:
West High Knights
Hey
Yeah we're putting up a fight
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
Wildcats
We never quit it, what, going to win it, what
Let me hear you say
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Game on
Troy & Wildcats:
This is the last time to get it right
This is the last chance to make it or not, yeah
We got to show what we're all about (team, wildcats)
Work together (go)
This is the last chance to make our mark
History will know who we are
This is the last game so make it count it's
Now or never, yeah
Wildcats:
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
Minutes left better get it done
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
More minutes get ready game on
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
Minutes left running out of time
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
More minutes seconds on the line
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
Minutes left got to get it done
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
More minutes till we're number ones
Troy:
Got to get it together
Yeah, pull up and shoot score
Are you ready? Are you with me?
Team, team, team, yeah
Shake'em with the crossover (wildcats)
Tell me what are we here for to win
Because we know we're the best team
Come on boys, come on boys, come on
The way we play tonight
Is what we leave behind (that's right)
It all comes down to right now it's up to us (let's go)
So what are we gonna be (gonna be?)
T-E-A-M Team
Got to work it out turn it on (come on)
This is the last time to get it right
This is the last chance to make it or not
We got to show what we're all about (team, wildcats)
Work together (go)
This is the last chance to make our mark (hoops)
History will know who we are (who we are)
This is the last game so make it count it's
Now or never
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
W-I-L-D wildcats
You know you're on
W-I-L-D wildcats
Come on come on
West High Knight Cheerleaders:
West High Knights (yeah!)
Yeah, we're doing it right (oh yeah)
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
W-I-L-D Wildcats
Now's the time
Troy:
Got to get an inside down low
In the pain now shoot score (defense)
Got to work it together
Gimme the ball, gimme the ball, gimme the ball (fast break)
(Keep the ball in control)
Let it fly from downtown (three more)
Show them we can do it better (no way)
Go, go, go come on boys (wildcats)
The way we play tonight (yeah)
Is what we leave behind (that's right)
It all comes down to right (West High)
Now it's up to us (let's go)
So what are we gonna be (gonna be?)
T-E-A-M Team
Got to work it out turn it on (come on)
This is the last time to get it right (go)
This is the last chance to make it or not, yeah
We got to show what we're all about (team, wildcats)
Work together (go)
This is the last chance to make our mark (hoops)
History will know who we are (who we are)
This is the last game so make it count it's
Now or never
Gabriella: Troy!
Troy: Right now I can hardly breathe
Gabriella: Oh, you can do it just know that I believe
Troy: And that's all I really need
Gabriella: Then come on
Troy: Make me strong
It's time to turn it up
Game on
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
Wildcats go tear it up
Go wildcats
Yeah we're number one
Hey wildcats we're the champions
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, team go
West High Knight Cheerleaders:
West High Knights
Hey
Yeah we're putting up a fight
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
Wildcats
We never quit it, what, going to win it, what
Let me hear you say
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Wildcats
West High Knights Cheerleaders: Go West High
Wildcats Cheerleaders:
Yeah
Hey, we're best
Gonna win
Gotta show them how we do
Game on
Troy & Wildcats:
This is the last time to get it right
This is the last chance to make it or not, yeah
We got to show what we're all about (team, wildcats)
Work together (go)
This is the last chance to make our mark
History will know who we are
This is the last game so make it count it's
Now or never, yeah
This is the last time to get it right (go wildcats)
This is the last chance to make it or not, yeah
We got to show what we're all about (team, wildcats)
Work together (go, go, go)
This is the last chance to make our mark
History will know who we are
This is the last game so make it count it's
Now or never
Yeah
