I Know It's Today

In the song "I Know It's Today" from Shrek The Musical, we follow the character Fiona through different stages of her life as she waits for her prince to rescue her. The song is a clever and humorous take on the traditional fairy tale narrative, highlighting Fiona's impatience and growing frustration with the endless waiting. The song begins with Young Fiona, who is full of hope and excitement, believing that her prince will come any day now. She draws parallels between herself and Rapunzel, who also waits in a tower, and finds solace in the idea that her story will have a happy ending just like the fairy tales she reads.

As the song progresses, we meet Teenage Fiona, who is still waiting but with a more cynical outlook. She references Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, poking fun at the absurdities of fairy tales while still clinging to the hope that her prince will come. Teenage Fiona's impatience is palpable, and she humorously questions the practicality of these stories, such as how Snow White manages basic bodily functions while in a glass coffin. Despite her growing doubts, she remains determined that her prince will appear and rescue her.

Finally, we see Adult Fiona, who has been waiting for an astonishing 8,423 days. Her frustration has reached its peak, and she is now openly critical of the fairy tale tropes that have kept her waiting. She demands to cut out all the unnecessary parts of the story and get straight to the happy ending. Fiona's journey through the song is a reflection of the unrealistic expectations set by fairy tales and the emotional toll of waiting for a perfect, storybook romance. The song ends with a powerful declaration from all three versions of Fiona, asserting that they know their prince will come today, despite the long and arduous wait.