Annotations for Evan todd barrett wilbert weed jon eidson and ryan mccartan our love is god

Lyric: Get off the fence, get off the damn fence
Annotation:
Since there doesn’t seem to be an actual fence in the scene, it’s possible that J.D.’s yelling this at himself. To be ‘on the fence’ is to be stuck between two decisions. J.D.’s morals could be kicking in right now, causing him to be conflicted (or ‘on the fence’) about killing Kurt, meaning that he’s trying to convince himself to ‘get off the fence’ by making a choice. It could also just be that just because there isn’t an actual fence shown onstage doesn’t mean there isn’t one- after all, they’re in a cemetery, which are almost always surrounded by fences. So Kurt is probably just trying to climb the fence to get away.
I always thought this was referencing back to the part in “Big Fun,” when Ram went after the freshmen Veronica told him were on the fence. Maybe this is a representation of how all their lives Kurt and Ram have been ostracizing and chasing “losers,” and now JD gets to reiterate that to Kurt.
Though I think it is a pretty literal since the actor is miming climbing a fence, I think there is something to be said about JD yelling this. In the movie, JD says, “The extreme always seems to make an impression.” which in my mind always implied that he killed not strictly because of his mental state, but because he wanted a societal message pushed. Saying, “Get off the damn fence” does have a sort of double meaning in that JD is tired of society being on the fence, and he chooses the people he does to kill because to him they represent a “society that churns out slaves and blanks” so yelling it at Kurt is essentially yelling it at society. I’m not sure this makes any sense, but I tried.
If it’s directed at Kurt, it’s extremely chilling. This is a boy who just saw his friend die and is running for his life, and J.D. is calling after him the way a parent might yell at a misbehaved child. J.D., your psychopathy is coming through loud and clear.
Nope, there’s an actual fence in the script. The New York production didn’t have one, but Evan Todd (as Kurt) mimed climbing one. Sets are expensive. The stage directions read: (KURT tries to escape by scaling a fence.) J.D.: Off the damn fence! Get off the fence! (KURT stops, halfway up. He turns back, exhausted and crying.) KURT: I don’t understand!
There is intended to be a literal fence in the script; if Kurt is climbing a fence, he’d have his back to JD, meaning he couldn’t shoot him in the chest/forehead; if JD shot Kurt in the back, it would obviously be a murder, as he couldn’t have shot Ram in the chest if Ram shot him in the back at the same time, so JD needs Kurt to get off the fence to actually make the double suicide look real
The musical uses a very minimal set and props, with the actors physically miming the presence of non-existent elements (the Heathers opening the “car” doors in Blue, Veronica opening JD’s “window” in Dead Girl Walking). At this point in the song, the actor playing Kurt mimes trying to climb over a cemetery fence and escape.
I think it’s both literal and figurative. Literal to Kurt who’s actually on a fence. And figurative to Veronica who as jd sees it is doubting him
I think in the movie Kurt was trying to climb a fence and in the musical he’s mimicking it since there’s no actual fence on the stage
If the fence is literal, J.D. needs Kurt away from the fence when he shoots him, or else being able to frame this as a double-suicide embedded in Ram and Kurt’s love for one another becomes less plausible. If Kurt is halfway up the fence, his blood will likely end up there if he’s been shot.
I think it’s directed at Veronica, telling her to decide which side she’s on. She wanted to knock them out, but not kill them. To JD, that might seem wishy-washy in a sense, therefore telling her to “get off the fence!”

Lyric: [KURT, spoken]
 What?
Annotation:
NOTHING THERE

Lyric: VERONICA,
Annotation:
its JD who says that… then Veronica

Lyric: We will use them to knock Kurt and Ram out just long enough to make it look like a suicide pact
Annotation:
At this part of the song, the melodic motif for “Heather, Heather, Heather” plays in the background. This could be an allusion to how Heather Chandler’s “suicide” was also faked in a similar way.

Lyric: Uh
Annotation:
The way Veronica delivers this “Uh” sounds like a moan

Lyric: Complete with a forged suicide note
Annotation:
Here, since JD is the one to produce the note, we are subtly told that he, like Veronica, is skilled at forgery, a skill that we see return in  Yo Girl: He’s got your handwriting down cold!

Lyric: I don’t understand
Annotation:
when J.D. says get off the fence, he’s talking to himself because there is no fence (make a choice) so Kurt doesn’t understand
It could also be that Ram doesn’t understand why J.D.’s doing this. Yes, they embarrassed his girlfriend but they don’t think they deserve death for it.

Lyric: The new world needed room for me and you
Annotation:
By this point in the musical JDs mysterious charisma had been ‘melted’ away leaving his broken mental state and lack of moral compass on display. JD has built a god complex for himself and Veronica as a way to keep her close; likely as a way cover his crimes but also due to his dependence on her. “Needed room” suggests he is so deep into his god complex that he believes his importance outweighs everything in his way.

Lyric: Ram and I
Annotation:
By saying “Ram and I,” that means Kurt supposedly wrote the note. Just felt like sharing that small bit of information I just realized.

Lyric: Yello?
Annotation:
“Yello” (a variation of “hello”) is an informal greeting used when answering the phone. It is frequently associated with Midwesterners.  Heathers: The Musical takes place in Ohio, so this is an apt choice for Kurt’s dialogue. https://twitter.com/midwesternope/status/1187821421474537473

Lyric: Plant our garden here
Annotation:
In the musical, they are preparing at the graveyard. Veronica thinks that they are making a future together, and JD thinks they are going to remove all of the bad people from the world.

Lyric: I was alone
Annotation:
JD could be referring to his mother’s death. He felt alone because she was all he could rely on, but then she commited suicide. We have seen multiple times that JD’s father doesn’t treat him well, and JD has to rely on himself to get things done. But after a while, JD met Veronica, and he felt as if she understood him, and that he was no longer alone.

Lyric: [KURT, spoken]
Annotation:
It’s odd that Kurt, who is very outwardly macho, uses the phrase “holy crap” instead of something stronger. I think this is because he isn’t trying to impress anyone; this is a legitimate moment of shock for him.

Lyric: So do we just like, whip it out or what?
Annotation:
Kurt and Ram both pride themselves on being very sexually experienced, but this moment reveals that they may have less experience than they claim.

Lyric: We had to hide our gay forbidden love
Annotation:
Veronica thinks that J.D.’s master plan of making Kurt and Ram out to look like homosexuals is enough to get back at them. Little does she know, J.D. has a much more gruesome plan in mind that he sees fit as revenge.

Lyric: They died because God said they must
Annotation:
J.D. believes that God calls the shots on life and death, and J.D. insists that he and Veronica’s love can do the same, if not him alone.

Lyric: Our love is God
Annotation:
Veronica and JD sing this so close together, but slightly apart. JD, then Veronica, then JD, then Veronica. I might be reading too much into this, but to me, it always seemed to represent how their idea of love is different. Veronica is still believing the illusion of love JD has put up, while JD knows the truth.

Lyric: Free pussy
Annotation:
just more prof of how sex-driven and horny they are…

Lyric: Three
Annotation:
The irony is that JD never finishes his countdowns, as seen towards the end of “Meant to be Yours”. This is the only time he will ever get to “3”.

Lyric: I was just kidding about the Bo Diddley thing
Annotation:
Kurt is referring to the scene before  “Fight for Me” where he calls J.D. Bo Diddley. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BoDiddley “Ellas McDaniel, known as Bo Diddley, was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and music producer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Clash”

Lyric: I worship you, I’d trade my life for yours
Annotation:
The way he says it proves how his mind is no longer trying to hold itself together, but it’s tearing itself apart. J.D. also says that he’d let himself die if it meant that Veronica would live, and he proves this later by killing himself. Chilling.

Lyric: We can start and finish wars
 We’re what killed the dinosaurs
 We’re the asteroid that’s overdue
Annotation:
JD sings these lines softly before almost spitting the last line “We’re the asteroid that’s overdue.” The fact that he’s singing them softly can reflect a parent reassuring their child, as in JD the parent and Veronica or Kurt the child. Then, the spitting of the last line, can also reflect JD will have no remorse or regret or guilt over killing Kurt.

Lyric: Are you okay?
Annotation:
This line suggests Veronica at least initially might recognise that J.D’s emotional extremes are abnormal and destructive, although she later falls for his declarations of love

Lyric: We’ll plant our garden here
Annotation:
This might be interpreted as a reference to the  Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived without sin.

Lyric: Our love is God
Annotation:
“Our love is God” is a direct quote from the original 1988 film. After Veronica and Heather McNamara have an awful double date with Kurt and Ram, J.D. comes to the rescue. The shot depicts him on top of a hill, surrounded by blue light and looking down upon Veronica. After she gives an explanation of the situation, he stretches out his hand to help her climb and simply says, “Our love is God. Let’s go get a slushie.” This is a reference to the earlier convince store scene, or “Freeze Your Brain” in the stage production.

Lyric: [J.D. shoots RAM, VERONICA shoots at KURT but misses]
Annotation:
In some versions of the musical, JD shoots at both Kurt and Ram, but misses Kurt and goes in pursuit, following the rest of the number.

Lyric: You’re not alone
Annotation:
Veronica starts to feel like she is finally not alone in her struggles getting through high school. The only other time so far she’s mentioned this was in “Big Fun”, and she might have been  drunk/ high: Dreams are coming true When people laugh but not at you! I’m not alone! I’m not afraid!

Lyric: You’re not alone
Annotation:
Here, Veronica begins to repeat after J.D. as his (fake) tears rouse her empathy. In staging, though, he is not crying (which is further a sign of his manipulative tendencies). She’s eager to assure him “you’re not alone”, as his fierce passion draws her in. This song is perhaps the pinnacle of J.D.’s more overt manipulation. He wants her to repeat after him, and her general compassion (expressed in “ Beautiful”) allows her to comply. By involving her in his plan, she’s validating his developing God complex.

Lyric: Stay there, I’ll get him
Annotation:
Beginning right before J.D. speaks, the melody from “Yo Girl”, a later song, is played on strings in the background. The urgent melody as well as the foreshadowing of J.D.’s psychotic entrance at the end of “Yo Girl” gives the audience a sense of just how dangerous the situation has become.

Lyric: We’re the asteroid that’s overdue
Annotation:
This is a reference to the  asteroid that landed on earth approximately 65 million years ago that was said to have wiped out ¾ of the earth’s species. The asteroid left a large crater, which could be alluding to the power that Veronica and JD’s love could have. Or, you know, the murders. The word “overdue” is implying that JD has had these thoughts for a long time. This backs up the idea that JD has been influenced by his father’s defensive actions.

Lyric: [RAM, spoken]
 Okay
 
 [KURT, spoken]
 Okay, hehe
 What about you?
 
 [VERONICA, spoken]
 Oh, hm-hm
 Well, I was hoping that you could rip my clothes off me, sport
Annotation:
While these word are being spoken, a line from  “Beautiful” plays in the background. It’s eerily similar to the line the Veronica sings, “College will be paradise if I’m not dead by June!” If it is this line, it would foreshadow Ram and Kurt’s death.

Lyric: Our love is God (Our love is God) (Ah)
 Our love is God
Annotation:
At this point in the song J.D. is standing directly behind Veronica. The lights slowly go down and we see the two extremes. Veronica looks a mixture of horrified and shock which makes perfect sense because technically this is the first time Veronica has killed someone. When she truly believed that she was just knocking them out. And then we see J.D.’s face–while Veronica looks up and off into space, J.D. looks directly at the  crowd. As he keeps singing about love there is absolutely no emotion on his face. J.D. enjoys killing and feels no remorse for not only killing three of his peers but for tricking his girlfriend into killing someone as well. Contrary to popular belief, Veronica does say “God” and not “gone”.

Lyric: [J.D. shoots KURT]
Annotation:
The music previous to the shot is definitely ominous and meant to reflect the danger and seriousness of it all. It might be showing the inner workings of J.D.’s mind as he works himself up to pull the trigger.

Lyric: And we don’t even have to buy it a pizza
Annotation:
This showcases some of Kurt and Ram’s views on Veronica, and women in general. By calling her “it,” referring to “free pussy,” they display how they only view her as a source of sex. They don’t even appear to view ANY female as a person. Apparently they’re quite used to getting their way with (varyingly willing) women, and seem to think plying them with alcohol and food counts as effort.

Lyric: Our love is God
Annotation:
After J.D sings this line there is a guitar strum, which makes it seem as though he is waiting for the response that Veronica had given him before. When she doesn’t answer he repeats the line sounding more menacing, until she finally “answers” by saying “Our love is god”.

Lyric: [RAM, spoken]
Annotation:
Ram sometimes wears a tie here. Apparently orgies are business-casual.

Lyric: Woah, is that real?
Annotation:
At this point, according to the script, “J.D. opens a box and pulls out two World War II vintage Luger pistols. Veronica flinches, then stares.”

Lyric: Our love is God
Annotation:
The first few times “Our love is god” is sung, it sounds a hell of a lot more romantic/calming. Now with the guitar strum in the background, it sounds a lot more dark and menacing. Veronica seems hesitant to say it with him and sounds confused and angry, which shows that she’s more than scared at this point, but still thinks she’s in love with J.D..

Lyric: Lucky guess?
Annotation:
This goes further to show how, well, to put it bluntly, stupid, or at least desperate, they are. At school, Veronica was very clearly upset about the false rumours and slut-shaming. Just maybe a few hours later, they immediately believe her extremely sudden and illogical change of heart.

Lyric: One, two
Annotation:
This musical has something against people completing their “count to three”. J.D. has a problem with completing the countdown as seen with  “Meant to be Yours”. There’s supposed to be suspenseful and something off-putting about the incompletion. His growing impatience and instability starts to come out. Also his false starts add to the air of deceit JD starts giving off. He’s less fragile and more unpredictable.

Lyric: Heh, uh— Hi, Veronica
Annotation:
From the published script: “(LIGHTS CHANGE. It’s dawn, out in the woods. RAM and KURT enter, excited, and even a little nervous about the upcoming orgy. Ram wears a tie.)”

Lyric: Strip for me
Annotation:
J.D. and Veronica need them to be in their underwear to make the aforementioned gay relationship more believable. And they do. And that’s all they appear in later as ghosts.

Lyric: We’ll burn it down
Annotation:
This foreshadows how obsessive JD is over Veronica, how he loves her (or thinks he does). Later in the musical, he decides to blow apart the entire high school (with all the students in it) because they were what he thought was a bad influence on her. Then she fakes her suicide, and he declares to do it in her honor. Here he’s so upset and furious that they hurt her, that he just up and decides to kill them. This hints that because Veronica’s the only one who’s shown him kindness and truly loved him in a long time, he worships her so much that he’ll definitely burn down the world for her. Maybe because he doesn’t really know what love is, he thinks that what he’s doing isn’t quite normal, but is still right. Until the murder, Veronica’s on board with this idea. This line echoes her own sentiments from  “Beautiful”: Fight the urge to strike a match and set this dump ablaze! And  “Dead Girl Walking”: Make this whole town disappear!“.

Lyric: They made you cry, but that will end tonight
Annotation:
This is referring back to Blue Reprise, where Ram and Kurt made a fool out a Veronica. They spread a false rumour, and were believed by all in the school. In this scene, Veronica is crying and J.D. is holding her in his arms. The quote “but that will end tonight” means he is planning to kill them as he killed Heather Chandler. But, of course, Veronica isn’t aware of this yet.

Lyric: I worship you
Annotation:
It’s fairly easy to assume that J.D. has never really been in a relationship that he cared about before, since he admitted to having no friends or connections in  “Freeze Your Brain.”. This leads to this sort of dangerous sentiment that he’s not only in love, but that he worships Veronica. This is obsessive and borderline abusive in itself, and the causation is that J.D. has never had a person to connect, and is therefore latching onto Veronica obsessively and desperately. He assumes that their love is all-powerful because he’s never felt it, and the feeling is probably so intense for him simply because of how numb he’d become.

Lyric: Stop being a dick
Annotation:
The significance of this line is that Kurt is still throwing the only insults he knows. JD at this point is being much more than a dick- he’s being a murderer. It could go to show that people who peak in high school never really change from who they were in high school.

Lyric: And when the morning comes, they’ll both be laughing stocks
Annotation:
This is another clue to JD’s lies. The last time he says “and when the morning comes” in this song, he sings “We’ll burn away that tear … and raise our city here.” As seen in Blue (reprise), Kurt and Ram made her cry/tear. The word “morning” here is a play-on words with the word “mourning”. When the mourning of their deaths begins, it might be overrun with people mocking their alleged homosexuality.

Lyric: Our love is God
Annotation:
A direct reference to the line from the  Heathers film:  Just one letter away from “good”, saying their love is God insinuates that their love is all-powerful. This admitted feeling J.D. has could be what leads him to doing all the things he does. (Heather C., Ram, Kurt, almost Veronica, almost the whole school, himself.) It might also be that J.D. feels like he’s powerless, since he couldn’t do anything about his mom’s death, and his father’s subsequent neglect. His and Veronica’s “love” is the closest thing he has to a meaningful  relationship, and it consumes him. “Our love is God” shows both his growing God complex and how much this passion for Veronica has absorbed him.

Lyric: Holy crap!
Annotation:
When Kurt yells this, “Holy crap!”, fast pace music starts to play. If you listen closely, it sounds like the section from  “Yo Girl” when J.D. is bursting into Veronica’s house. I believe they did this because in both of the songs, the similar sections are played in moments of suspense. It’s not just that it’s a suspenseful moment, but a moment where J.D. is giving into his sociopathic desires to kill people. In this song, he’s about to kill Kurt, in “Yo, Girl” he’s about to kill Veronica.

Lyric: We can start and finish wars
Annotation:
J.D., in his God complex, picks a fight, or what he calls a “war,” with a mean and intolerant society. He shows more of his psychopathy and narcissism with this line because his idea of self-importance must be very high to say this.

Lyric: Our love is God
Annotation:
In the staging of this scene, J.D. comes up behind Veronica. This is important because it’s a recurring sign of dominance from J.D. that Veronica seems to relish here and in Seventeen. Though non-threatening here, like their relationship at this point, later in this song it becomes directly dangerous, with J.D.’s arm tighter around her neck and a gun to her back. This common pose is indicative of their relationship because it’s dominant, but not harmful… until it is. This line represents their search for meaning and decision to place their faith in themselves. It’s very romantic at this time but it foreshadows the unhealthiness their (more J.D.) worshipping leads to. They bestow themselves with the power to take lives and this line is the declaration of that fact. How fitting it is that their love creates the demon within them. The demon which feeds on chaos and longs for humanity’s death. In addition to this, people usually look to God/religion for a sense of normal right and wrong or moral compass etc. However, the only thing driving these two is their love which acts in their own self interest. It’s important that JD uses this new moral code to justify his darkness and the killing. In conclusion: its very cute but also very dangerous.

