Dig Deep is an original song written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Background[]
It was first featured in The Movie Star, the eleventh episode of the first season of Smash. This version features Uma Thurman (Rebecca Duvall) on lead vocals.
The song was reprised by Megan Hilty (Ivy Lynn) in The Dress Rehearsal, the eleventh episode of the second season. This version was also released as a single and was included on the Bombshell cast recording.
Context in Bombshell[]
In the context of Bombshell, the number occurs in 1955 as Marilyn studies with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York City. Being limited by typecasting, she meets with Cheryl Crawford before interviewing with Lee and being accepted into the Actors Studio. This number presumably takes place on her first day of class there.
It was written by Tom Levitt and Julia Houston and was first performed in the Boston previews with Rebecca Duvall as Marilyn Monroe and Henry Stram as Lee Strasberg.
Lyrics[]
Lee:
(spoken, continues underneath) The challenge for the actor is to use sense memory of childhood trauma. The actor must deploy the conscious and dig into the unconscious. The challenge for the actor is to learn to be private-
Students:
Ah!
Use your past
Use your pain
Never ever try to entertain
Let Stanislavski be your umbrella
Lee:
Mumble your words!
Unless they're...
Male Student:
"Stella!"
Students:
Use justification, improvisation
Plus some emotional masturbation
Lee:
Visitor from the Western coast!
Lee with Students:
Can you dig it?
Marilyn:
I dig it the most!
Marilyn:
(spoken) I'm through with Hollywood. It's New York and the Actors Studio for me. And if any of those boys from Hollywood come a’ callin, you can tell them I said this!
Marilyn:
In history, there's this doctrine called Monroe
Which basically told the enemy where to go
It was created to nurture and protect
But now, a new Monroe doctrine is in effect
So go tell Mr. Zanuck to read it and weep
'Cause I'm not just here to dig
I'm here to dig deep
From the 20th Century Foxholes, I'm released
Students:
(scatting)
Marilyn:
And just like the sun, I'm rising in the east
Students:
(scatting)
Marilyn:
I made a move from that permanent state of sadness
To prove there's a method to my madness
I'm waking up from that 20th Century sleep
Yeah, I'm not just here to dig
Students:
Woo!
Marilyn:
I'm here to dig deep
Marilyn with Students:
Well, there ain't no sin to remove your skin
Marilyn:
And take a look under the hood
Students:
Mm-hmm!
Marilyn:
Well, you must dispel the outer shell
Though, you have to admit, my shell looks good
Male Student:
You're tearing me apart!
Marilyn:
I'll finally get to use my mind's interior (Students: Interior)
And not only just my bust, and my posterior (Students: Posterior)
'Cause the true inner self, you can't avoid
Students:
And we're just nuts about Sigmund Freud!
Marilyn with Students:
So open up my id
Marilyn:
For a good clean sweep (Students: Sweep)
'Cause I'm not just here to dig
Marilyn with Students:
No, I'm not just here to dig
Oh, I'm not just here to dig
Marilyn:
I'm here to dig deep
Students:
Motivation, concentration, exploration, simulation, perspiration, inspiration!
Marilyn:
So deep!
Students:
Yeah!
Trivia[]
- As heard when Tom and Rebecca are rehearsing this song in The Movie Star, it was originally written as a slower ballad.
Appearances in Smash[]
- Rebecca Duvall as Marilyn Monroe (The Movie Star)
- Ivy Lynn as Marilyn Monroe (The Dress Rehearsal)
Video[]
Smash - Dig Deep HD
Smash - Dig Deep - BOMBSHELL SOUNDTRACK-0