Action As The Song Occurs
As the song progresses, the whole group seems to hear it—they skip toward the Emerald City in time to the music.
After the verse, the underscore switches to the witch's theme, as the film cuts to the witch's castle, where she jumps on her broomstick and takes off for the Emerald City herself.
Cutting back to the entrance to the Emerald City, the group of four approaches the city gate. The verse of the song is reprised, and then is closed by a single line instrumental from "We're Off to See the Wizard" just as Dorothy (Judy Garland) rings the bell.
This song is one of several in the film presumably intended to speak to its American audience, which by then was ten years into the Great Depression.
According to the CD liner notes, the choir was a studio group consisting of the MGM orchestra and two individual groups called The Debutantes and The Rhythmettes.
The final line in the film version, "March up to the gate and bid it open", is rendered in an outtake as "March up to that gate..."
Read more about this topic: Optimistic Voices
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