m E r l i n
The Lyrics
by
Victoria Heward ©1998
Act one
1 OVERTURE (Instrumental)
2 AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING
As it shone ten lives ago, the sun will always shine.
The seasons pass and come again,
As they did, in the beginning.
Poor minstrel boy am I.
I do not change but simply tell of the things that are.
Of stories old and stories new,
How it was, in the beginning
Is now.
And then I tell of things to come.
Long ago but even now, the beasts of the forest
And the trees and the brooks, stop in wonder.
What price to pay, what price to pay for the golden age,
For the knowledge of time, for the secret gift of life alone.
Gwendolyn:
A long time gone but even so,
I watch by the window
And I wait for my husband to return.
What price to pay,
What price to pay for a love so dear.
For a bed grown cold,
For a wife so lonely, so alone.
Ganeida:
Let him live how he wants to live.
The beasts of the forest,
The trees, the brooks,
His brothers.
What price to pay,
What price to pay, my brother's lost,
In his heart's long search,
In the forest dark and lonely, alone.
Devil, Gwendolyn, Ganeida:
As it was, it is now we understood.
The seasons pass
And Merlin he knows why.
Gwendolyn:
He loved me once I understood.
The seasons passed
And Merlin soon, soon did leave me alone.
Devil, Gwendolyn, Ganeida:
Into the woods to live and learn
To touch the wind, caress the trees,
And on his knees he eats the grass.
The seasons pass, and we ask "Why?"
As it was in the beginning
it is now.
3 WINTER LAMENT
Merlin:
When the snow comes
When the snow comes
Our blood will turn to stone.
And the trees which gave us food
Now give us nought.
Keep me warm wolf
Winter's nigh,
See the stag, the fox, the bear,
Keep me warm for winter's nigh.
Cursed earth,
This rhyme of seasons,
Round of chaos.
Where's the sun?
Chorus:
A man shall come with lute and drum,
To soothe this winter rage you feel,
Take courage wolf. Don't die, don't go.
What price to pay winter is nigh.
Merlin:
What's that you say wolf?
What's that you say?
I take a branch,
A cold dead branch.
It's seed will grow
Where the waters flow
Despite the winter's cold and snow.
Let's see , let's try . Let's see, let's try.
Chorus:
Let's see, let's try . Let's see, let's try.
And there,
Where the fountain crossed the branch,
Sprang forth the flower then the fruit:
The tree of knowledge, tree of life.
Merlin:
Let's eat this blessed fruit...
4 THE MUSICIAN ARRIVES
Hush wolf I hear footsteps.
Chorus:
A man shall come with lute and drum,
Hush, his footstep's near.
Merlin:
Come friend, fear not
He will not harm.
Devil (Lover):
It's him. I feel his holy charm.
It's him I'm looking for.
I was sent by your sister,
Follow me, follow me.
By the magic of my music,
Follow me, follow me.
Ganeida:
My husband will be waiting.
Devil (Lover):
Follow me, follow me.
Ganeida:
My love the light is fading.
Devil (Lover):
Follow me, follow me.
Devil and Chorus:
Follow me, follow me....
Rydderch:
My wife and I would like to take this happy
opportunity,
To welcome home, a brother and a friend.
Ganeida:
My brother dear,
I've wished so long to see you safe and well.
Merlin:
You sent that man, you tricked me here,
I had no choice, what do you want from me?
Rydderch:
Merlin we were worried, your sister was frantic.
Ganeida:
I wished so long to see you safe and well.
Merlin:
You poor sad fool, look around at this farce,
Open your eyes, to the truth that stares you in the face.
Take your wife for example, take this leaf for example.
Rydderch:
I’m trying really hard, for my
wife’s sake and for mine
To understand this babble,please explain.
There are times when it’s hard
For my brother-in-law’s mind
Is simply round the bend, it’s quite deranged.
Merlin:
Take your wife for example, take this leaf
for example
That fell into her hair from the trees that gave shelter
To her lover and to her.
It remains where it fell, like a token of his love
She too careless to remove it, before running home to you
Her cheeks alight with love,
but not for you.
Rydderch:
I’m tryng really hard, for my
wife’s sake and for mine
To understand this babble, please explain.
I welcome you to my house, you repay me with lies
I welcome you here, you thank me with lies.
Perhaps we were wrong, perhaps the forest
Is the place for a man like this after all.
Merlin:
Then I have your permission to go ?
Sister it was a nice thought, the musician.
See you again, either here, or in the forest
somewhere
Farewell.
6 FREE FOR ANOTHER
A woman can wait
If her heart remains strong.
Her desire for love
Lasts a whole lifetime long.
But how long can she wait
If that love never comes?
How much more can I take
If my love never comes?
Never comes.
There's a man that I met
He's quite strange I confess.
Where he's from, what he wants
I can only guess.
But his eyes burn with passion,
His desire is real.
He helps me forget the pain
That I feel.
He asked me to wed him.
"How can I?" said I
"For I'm wed to another till the day I die".
Devil:
"But where is your husband?
My love he's not here.
With me you'll be safe,
You'll have nothing to fear".
Gwendolyn:
So I sent to the forest
A good friend of mine
To find Merlin and ask him
If he still was mine.
Must I wait forever
Or could I be free
To live with another
My husband to be?
His task was complete
My good friend returned.
Messenger:
Sweet Gwendolyn listen,
Your love has been spurned.
Gwendolyn and Messenger:
Merlin's life is without you / me
And he says that you're / I'm
Free for another
H
7 THE WEDDING MARCH
ii) The Wedding Song (chorus)
iii) Merlin and the Devil
My mother once fell to your evil desires, Gwendolyn won’t do the same.
Do you really hope once again to deceive, with your trickery lies
And your shame ?
Try your magic against mine now, try your magic against mine.
I’ll send you back to hell.
Now die, die, die, die,
DIE.
I call upon the powers bestowed on me at birth
To rid this kingdom of doom.
And bring us now, in fear of good
To trust its word, and heed its name
And greet the rising king.
Gwendolyn:
Go in peace.
8 OUR TIME IS SNOW
Arthur:
Peace my friend.
Merlin:
Who are you, I recognise your face.
Arthur:
As a boy you knew me, touch my face Merlin
And know me still.
Merlin:
My lord Arthur, the chosen king
Welcome to this humble land, my home.
Arthur:
I saw the storm, then felt the calm
I knew the time was right, to seek you out.
Merlin:
I’m here Lord Arthur, the time for us is
now.
Chorus:
The time for us is now!
ACT TWO
1 FAIRIES DANCE (instrumental)
2 MADMAN SINGS
Merlin:
I feel the ages of man upon me
Old sage, child, wild stag, god?
Destiny calls me, I hear it and follow.
My magic permits me to know it
But change it I cannot.
A fox, a god, a man
Or simply the one in the middle?
The master, the maker, musician... or madman?
You want a snowfall ,I'll give you a snowfall.
You need sunshine, I am the light.
What is it that stops me, yet pulls me?
With men I cannot live,
And yet there is someone, a fairy, a spirit...
I know I must meet her and my life will be
hers.
If my magic is so strong why can't I resist her?
I know it will happen but change it I cannot.
In a greater world than ours
It happens thus, it's just the same
Fulfill we must, if know we can.
I'm a writer of magic, creator of gods,
Don't talk to me if you've got nothing to say.
My temperature's high and my tolerance low,
I've been living all day, my intention is so.
Arthur, give me a sign., give me your blessing
And I'll be your slave.
Fairy, save me from this world, be my soul fairy
And I'll be your slave.
Master of none, servant of all,
Servant of none, master of all.
Writer of magic, creator of gods,
Life becomes tragic against all the odds.
Powerful rhythm, dangerous hands,
Gather together from faraway lands.
Tree grows forever,giver of wisdom
Bearer of ripe fruit, knowledge of time.
Pure sparkling fountain, joy of the forest
Song for the new day, meaning of light.
Song for the new day.
Vivian:
Our time is now.
4 MERLIN AND VIVIAN ( including THE STORM )
So here we are, we knew that we would be.
Vivian:
Sooner or later our paths were bound to cross.
Merlin:
I'm feeling rather lost yet, at the same time rather found,
That part I've never really understood in life,
I understand.
Vivian:
So do I, I'm feeling all at once,
That both weakness and that strength are at the same time
Both the greatest gifts I've known.
Chorus:
Till dusk and then for two days more,
They sat and let their souls rejoice.
And as the sun rose, on the third day,
Vivian spoke to him.
I must be safe, I need to know
That nothing bad will ever come to me.
I need to know your love will never die.
Merlin:
Vivian, take this golden willow
And lay it soft around your gentle throat.
Its protection and its blessing
Hold a magic that is stronger
Than the hottest noon, the darkest night.
Vivian:
Why, you speak of magic! You speak as one who knows.
Please show me more, I need to know the
things you know.
Merlin:
But my magic is just foolish,
likeChildren playing with the seasons.
Nothing but a whisper to the wind,
A star’s caress, an eagle's song,
The promise of a star, a storm or two.
Vivian:
One storm's enough, please let me see.
Merlin:
But sunlight's better, let me show you how
A rainbow's born, how drops of light,
And gold combine.
Vivian:
A storm, I want a storm!
Merlin:
Then a storm you shall have.
Chorus:
And when he had given her
All that she wanted
The forest stoppd breathing
To hear what she'd say.
She said she was his and
Her love would remain so
In exchange for his magic.
A new trick each day.
She learnt to weave sunlight
And speak to the flowers
She commanded the new life
Which sprang at her feet.
She learnt how to change from
A fairy to nothing.
With Vivian happy,
The spell was complete.
Ganeida:
What price to pay my brother lost..
What price to pay for a love so dear...
Rydderch:
I’m trying really hard to understand...
Devil:
Follow me, follow
me...
Torment me no more, let me sleep in peace,
Let me rest in peace, let me dream of good,
Let me sleep in peace.
All:
Sleep in peace,
For there are greater dream than we.
Merlin,Merlin my friend,
Listen as you sleep.
Merlin:
I’m here Lord Arthur.
Arthur:
My love and I we are to wed
In church on Chrismas day,
Prepare yourself the journey’s long
My court is faraway.
For seven days and seven nights
The music will ring out,
We’ll celebrate
With all the land
And and all the lands about.
Devil:
A joyous time
Will soon be with us,
Come with pipes
And let them ring,
Celebrate the wedding feast
And greet the happy king and queen.
6 HOW TO DO THE SLEEPING SPELL
My love I must leave you
Lord Arthur has called me.
Vivian:
How long are you gone for?
It's hard here without you.
Last night as I slept
I dreamt that he told me
Of long celebrations
With music and song.
Vivian:
Last night as you slept
Your face was so perfect,
I gazed, rapt in wonder
The whole lifetime long.
How happy my dear love
I'd be if I knew
That magic that surely
Belongs just to you.
I pray that you tell me
Before going away how
To make a man sleep
All his life and a day.
To hold him a captive
To gaze as he dreams
Not dead, just sleeping
Although dead he seems.
Merlin:
Vivian you ask
Too much of me.
Vivian:
Merlin, you know
You must tell me.
You're right.
Vivian:
It could even help you...one day
Take this sword, a gift for Lord Arthur,
A sword rich in power, the magic of the lake
Now take it quick,
And go when you’ve told me
The spell.
7 GLORIA
Gloria patri
Gloria filio
Gloria
et spiritu sancto
Sicut erat in principio
Et nonc et semper
Et in secula seculorum
Amen.
8 BLESSED WITH PEACE
Chorus:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
And bless this day with peace (this day).
On Christmas day, come what may,
The Christ child brings us peace.
May the halls ring out, with silver bells,
May the feasting start, and never cease
And may this happy day be blessed with peace.
Arthur:
My heart shines out with silver stars,
This joy so great will never cease,
And may my heavenly bride
Be blessed with peace,
And may my bride be blessed with peace.
Let the feasting begin.
Chorus:
Prasise the Lord, praise the Lord
And bless this day with peace, (this day).
On christmas day,come what may
The christ child brings us peace.
Praise the lord.
9 HOW LONG CAN SHE WAIT?
A woman can wait
If her heart remains strong.
Her desire for love
Lasts a whole lifetime long,
Lifetime long.
10 UNINVITED GUEST / THE LAST BATTLE
You thought I was dead boys, you thought I
was gone
But the truth is quite different, my friends you were wrong…
I live on, I live on…
Arthur:
Who the devil is this man, how dare he
interrupt my wedding feast?
Merlin:
I’m afraid my weakening powers
Have let intruders into the party uninvited, Sire.
Arthur:
Weakening powers ? Uninvited guest ?
Explain your purpose and make it quick man.
Devil:
Quicker than you think Arthur yes, let me explain
Satan sent me to destroy you , and your band of merry men,
Nothing now can save your soul unless…
Merlin:
Unless you have the magic sword !
Arthur quick, take it.
Try your magic against mine now, try your magic against mine
I may have killed him, but I think I’m dying too,
Only you can save me, Merlin you know what to do.
Merlin:
My Lord I’d help you if I could
But I’ve given all my magic to a fairy in the wood.
There’s only one person who can save you,
And her name’s Vivian and she lives in
the wood.
Arthur:
Let her be sent for, let her come now,
My friends I am dying, let her come to me
now.
Chorus:
Come now Vivian, come King Arthur’s dying
Come now Viviam, come and save the king.
11
WAIT FOR THE GOLDEN AGE
Vivian, Vivian.
Vivian:
He will not die but gently sleep
As prophecies fortell.
So raise your head and drink my Lord
For herein lies the spell.
Chorus:
We will not die but gently sleep
As prophecies fortell.
We'll close our eyes and wait for when
A greater time will call.
As it was in the beginning.
Vivian:
And Merlin too will follow both
The king and court in sleep.
And while the universe moves on
A silent watch will keep.
Chorus:
As it was it is now, we understand.
A new golden age,
A new golden age will be ours.
With our once and future king
We will face a brand new dawn.
And the world will sing again
"A golden age has been born,
A golden age has been born".
As it was in the beginning
It will be.