Glee: Season 7-Episode 1: "New Beginnings"

Chapter 6: Empowerment Week: Day#1

Glee club practice on Tuesday:

"Ok people. Let's get empowerment week started." Mr. Schue exclaimed. "Who's up first?" "I'll go first Mr. Schue." Roderick stated. He nodded to Brad the piano player, and began to sing:

Well, I won't back down
No, I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

No, I'll stand my ground
Won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from dragging me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won't back down

(I won't back down) Hey, baby
There ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down) Hey, I
Will stand my ground
And I won't back down

Well, I know what's right
I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushing me around
But I'll stand my ground
And I won't back down

(I won't back down) Hey, baby
There ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down) Hey, I
Will stand my ground
(I won't back down) And I won't back down

(I won't back down) Hey, baby
There ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down) Hey, I
Won't back down

(I won't back down) Hey, baby
There ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down) Hey, I
Will stand my ground
(I won't back down) And I won't back down
(I won't back down) No, I won't back down

With that, the Glee club applauded Roderick's performance. "Good job Roderick." Will stated. "What inspired you to sing that song?"  "I figure when you're standing in the face of adversity or fear, you can't give in to it, you've gotta face it head on and not back down." Roderick replied. "Well, I'm glad you are empowered; OK, who's next?" Will asked. "I'll go Mr. Schue." Ryder stated. "Go ahead." Will stated then nodded at Ryder.  "This song states about how you can get hit and keep moving forward in life. It also talks about how I've overcome a lot of things to get where I am today." Ryder said as he then began to sing:

Can you save me
or will you fail me now
It's almost over cause you've faded out, again
Will you break me
When you're holding me down
I will escape you and I'll
I'll push you closer to the ground
Cause you're the one that's going down

And I am, stronger now
Since you crawled away
You're so far away
And I am, stronger now
Since you crawled away, since you crawled away

Never gonna save me
You just shut me out
And now it's over cause I'm stepping out, again
Never gonna break me
Just try and hold me down
I will escape you and I'll
I'll push you closer to the ground
Cause you're the one that's going down

And I am, stronger now
Since you crawled away
You're so far away
And I am, stronger now
Since you crawled away, since you crawled away

You want to tear me down
You want to hold me down
You can't control me now
You cannot take me out
You cannot save me now
Because I'm stronger now

And I am, stronger now
Since you crawled away
You're so far away
And I am, stronger now
Since you crawled away, since you crawled away [repeat]

You want to tear me down
You want to hold me down
You can't control me now
You cannot take me out
You cannot save me now
Because I'm stronger now

With that, the Glee club cheered and whooped. "Well done Ryder. That was a very powerful performance." Will said.  "I'm definitely empowered." Sam stated.

"Anyone else want to sing today?" Will asked.  "I'll go." Mason stood up.  "This song I chose for empowerment talks about how you can capture the moment and seize the opportunity."

Mason began to sing:

I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now

Adventure seeker on an empty street
Just an alley creeper, light on his feet
A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt
With the pain and anger can't see a way out
It ain't much I'm asking, I heard him say
Gotta find me a future move out of my way

I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now

Listen all you people, come gather round
I gotta get me a game plan, gotta shake you to the ground
But just give me, huh, what I know is mine
People do you hear me, just gimme the sign
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Here's to the future for the dreams of youth

I want it all (give it all I want it all)
I want it all (yeah)
I want it all and I want it now

I want it all (yes I want it all)
I want it all hey
I want it all and I want it now

I'm a man with a one track mind
So much to do in one lifetime (people do you hear me)
Not a man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies
So I'm living it all, yes I'm living it all
And I'm giving it all, and I'm giving it all
Oh oh yeah yeah ha ha ha ha ha
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
I want it all
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth

Here's to the future
Hear the cry of youth (hear the cry of youth) (hear the cry of youth)
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
I want it all yeah yeah yeah
I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
Oh oh oh oh oh And I want it (now)
I want it, I want it
Oh ha

The Glee club cheered once again as Mason smiled.  "That was powerful Mason. Talk about capturing the moment." Will stated.  "We have time for one more performance today." Spencer raised his hand. "I'll go." He said.  "OK Spencer, the floor is yours." Sam stated. With that, Spencer began to address the glee club. "The song I chose is about breaking free from things that confine you. At the risk of sounding sentimental, it could be breaking free from the things in you that were holding you down, all the regrets, all the pain, that you may have felt, everything that which is holding down your full potential." For me, it's about the human spirit."

With that, Spencer began to sing:

I've got another confession to make
I'm your fool
Everyone's got their chains to break
Holding you 
Were you born to resist or be abused?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Are you gone and onto someone new?

I needed somewhere to hang my head
Without your noose
You gave me something that I didn't have
But had no use
I was too weak to give in
Too strong to lose
My heart is under arrest again
But I break loose
My head is giving me life or death
But I can't choose
I swear I'll never give in
I refuse

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
You trust, you must
Confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

Oh Oh
Oh
Oh
Oh Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
The life, the love
You die to heal
The hope that starts
The broken hearts
You trust, you must
Confess

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
I've got another confession my friend
I'm no fool
I'm getting tired of starting again
Somewhere new
Were you born to resist or be abused?
I swear I'll never give in
I refuse

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
You trust, you must
Confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Oh

"Yeah! Whoo!" The glee club cheered. "Great job Spencer. That was awesome." Sam stated. Will nodded in agreement.

Then the bell rang.  "OK, class is dismissed for today." Will stated.  We'll see you guys tomorrow and more with empowerment week."

Finally! Some songs and more Glee Club. I apologize for the delay in writing. With the NFL season getting started and being a die-hard fan and all, it's easy to get a bit time- consumed by that. Anyways, that's it for this chapter. In the next chapter, the newbies (Jake, Marley, Kitty, Ryder, & Unique) have a reunion of sorts.

By the way, the songs sung by the respective Glee club members in this chapter were:

1. Roderick- "Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

2. Ryder- "Stronger" by Trust Company

3. Mason- "I Want It All" by Queen

4. Spencer- "Best of You" by Foo Fighters