Oratorio Songs ©Kim Rich | Kristillinen taidesäätiö

John the Baptist – Oratorio Songs

©Kim Rich

Music Heikki Sarmanto

ACT I

1) VOICE ON THE WIND

pilgrim chorus:
What is this voice that cries out
under the desert sky?
Who is this man who calls us?
What shall be our reply?

Will this man show us the way?
Lead us astray?
Should we just turn away?
A messenger sent from God,
or just a fraud.
How shall we find our way?

Prophet, some say, or mad man
or just a voice on the wind.
Has he been sent by a God or demon?
What do his words portend?

A Jeremiah returned
with words that burn,
lessons that we must learn?
Is his a voice we should heed,
or that misleads.
Just like the voice of the wind?

Out in the wilderness, waiting
under the desert sky.
Who is this man who calls us?
And what shall we reply?
Who is this man who?
Who is this man who?
How shall we find?

2) JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS

Septimus:
Just following orders,
an easy life, in a way.
No hard choices for me anymore,
just yessir, salute and obey.

chorus:
Just following orders.
Pass down the chain of command,
all responsibility,
so there’s never blood on your hands.

Third man:
Just following orders,
even if I… disagree.
Still, I serve the men with the power
and I always get my fee.

Septimus, Third man, chorus:
Just following orders.
Pass down the chain of command,
all responsibility,
so there’s never blood on your hands.

Josephus:
Just following orders.
It’s my muse that I obey.
Clio, the muse of history,
that I too might be history some day.

Septimus, Third man, Josephus, chorus:
Just following orders.
Pass down the chain of command,
all responsibility,
so there’s never blood on your hands.

John:
Just following orders.
God decrees… I say amen.
Lord, if I only follow your orders,
how different am I from them?

Septimus, Third man, Josephus, John,
chorus:
Just following orders.
Pass down the chain of command,
all responsibility,
so there’s never blood on your hands.

3) SHOW US THE WAY

pilgrims:
The days are dark
with doubt and fear.
We wander lost —
our path unclear.

Hope and heaven
seem far away.
We walk in shadows..
Show us the way.

John:
Seek the Lord who may be found
in living word and sacred ground.
Be made clean by sand and wind.
Let the Jordan river wash away your sins.

pilgrims:
You are our light —
our hope and help.
You come to save us
from ourselves.
You are the way —
help us, we pray.
Save us from shadows.
Show us the way.

The way… The truth… The light…

John:
Stop! I am not the way. I am not the light. ”I was sent to bear witness to the light.”

4) PATIENCE

Third man:
”Patience” they say
”Be patient” well, I say
”Patience” just means you’re giving up
and doing nothing.

”Patience,” I am
impatient with all this
”Patience!” it’s just another word
for doing nothing.

Why… does everybody say ”be patient”?
We’ve waited, waited for too long.
So many the years we have spent
wasted in ”patience”
Now is the time for true change
to come along.
”Wait for the Lord”— they’re just words
counselling ”patience”.
Now is the time for the sword to be drawn.

Wait upon the Lord… but oh how long
it’s taking.
Wait upon the Lord…. oh, Lord our
hearts are breaking.
Wait upon the Lord… well I am tired of
waiting.
You wait if you like —but not I!

”Patience” I hear
”Be patient” and it’s clear
”Patience” means that nobody gives a
damn anymore.

”Patience” to hell
with ”patience!” Those who sell
”patience” well, they’ve just sold us out
for evermore!

Why… should anyone want to be
”patient”?
Everything’s as bad as it can be.
Now is the time to give up on all this
”patience”.
Just look around, if you’ve eyes to see.
I see the signs all around… they don’t
say ”patience!”
Now is the time to fulfill
all prophecy.

Wait upon the Lord… well I’m here to
alert you.
Wait upon the Lord… but waiting’ s
sure to hurt you.
Go wait if you like, but ”patience” is no
virtue.
You can wait if you wish… but not I!

5) LET ME MAKE YOU FAMOUS

Josephus:
Let me make you famous.
I can make you shine.
Your words, your life a beacon.
(as long as the credit is mine).

Let me tell your story.
Polish and burnish it bright.

John:
Why can’t I tell
my own story?

Josephus:
You wouldn’t tell it right.

John:
I speak the word God writes in my
heart.
Words that burn like fire.
I speak the truth God speaks
through me.
Would you make me a liar?

Josephus:
I do not deal with Gods or truth, but only history.

6) WHAT IS HISTORY?

Josephus:
What is history?
Smoke and mystery…
But… one thing’s clear.
Whether written
or unwritten,
nothing’s what it appears.

Writing history
I make history…
make it do as I say.
We’ll make history!
We’ll make amazing history,
Starting today!

Let me tell your story,
past and present glory
and future yet to be.
So much more than story-telling,
It’s a kind of story-selling,
and no-one sells like me…
history.

What is history?
It’s all grist to me.
Mere facts to grind.
Trust your life to me.
I’ll turn it into history.
And soon you’ll find…

That your history
will make history.
if you do what I say!

John:
Verbal trickery.

Josephus:
Will carry you to victory!
Words win the day!

Let me create wonder…
Make your words roar like thunder
across all history.
Trust your story to my telling…
to my art of story selling…
and i swear we’ll make
history!

7) SONG OF THE WOULD BE DISCIPLE

Third man:
How can you be a disciple of a man,
who won’t let you be his disciple?

How can you follow a man who will say:
”Don’t follow me, follow the word.”
Why not take him at his word
and walk away?

*
pilgrims:
Would be.
Could be
Should be
Wannabe,
I would be a disciple.

Don’t care
who or what we follow.
Still I’d be a disciple.

Blindly on, we
rightly
wrongly
strive to be a disciple.

Third man:
Don’t care who or what we follow.
All Gods are stone,
all beliefs hollow.
I want a leader I can touch
and see…
An idol that’s as human as me.

pilgrims:
Would be.
Could be
Should be
Wannabe.
Who wouldn’t be a disciple?

8) LOOKING FOR THE RIGHTEOUS MAN

Third man:
I’m looking for the righteous man,
the perfect one — God’s right hand.
Messiah, redeemer, the chosen one
so we can be great again.

pilgrim chorus:
So we can be great again.

Third man:
The one, the only righteous man,
who follows God’s righteous plan.
Messiah, redeemer, the chosen one,
God’s annointed man.

pilgrim chorus:
So we can be great again.

Third man:
And when I find the righteous man,
God will welcome his own again.
We’ll be the chosen people again.
and the romans will run,
and the world bow down
to a nation of righteous men.

I’m looking for the righteous man.
All I ask is
God’s righteous man
to come among us now
and save us…
So we can be great again!

pilgrim chorus:
Oh, come among us now and save us…
so we can be great again!

9) SHARING

Herod and Herodias:
Sharing a meal.
Sharing a life.
Caring, sharing husband and wife.

Sharing a smile.
Sharing a thought.
Never sharing more than we ought.

For marriage is sharing
sweet give and take.
Learning to bend
for fear we might break
break apart.
As hand in hand
we rule the land.

Herodias:
My sweet,

Herod:
My love,

Herod and Herodias:
My heart.

*
Herod and Herodias:
Sharing our days.
Sharing our nights.
We share and share

And share alike.
Sharing our lies,
secrets and schemes.
Sometimes sharing’s
not all it seems.

Yes, marriage is sharing.
Allies we stand side by side
for we understand… standing apart
means we won’t rule long.
Together we’re strong.

Herodias:
My sweet,

Herod:
My dove,

Herod and Herodias:
My heart.

*
Herod and Herodias:
Sharing a kiss… a loving touch.
Sharing power… (but not too much)

Sharing a cup… Sharing a knife.
Caring, sharing husband and wife.

10) THE ROSE OF SHARON

Salome:
A rose of sharon am I…

Talitha:
Am I…

Salome and Talitha:
A lily of valleys desert dry.

Salome:
Yet no-one’s beloved am I…

Talitha:
Nor I…

Salome and Talitha:
And time goes by, goes by.
And we hear the daughters cry:

Salome:
”As the apple tree
among all the trees of the wood,
so shall my beloved be
among the sons.”

Talitha:
”And as a lily among thorns,”

Salome and Talitha:
”so is my love among the daughters.”

Salome:
Under his shadow, I would rest
with great delight.
O dove, that hides in the rock,
sweet is thy voice.

Talitha:
I would the banner over me say:
“Love”.

Salome and Talitha:
But see — there is nobanner over me.

Salome:
O, stay me with flagons,
comfort me with apples
for I am sick of love.

11) CAPTIVE FOUNTAIN

Salome:
Water at play —
Hear what I say—
Dance and obey,
Captive fountain.

Easy to make you
do the dance you do.
They make me dance, too,
to their tune.

There is nothing we can do.
I’m a prisoner like you.
But a prisoner can dream…
Captive fountain,
what would happen
if someday I found a way
to free you?
Could you free me, too?
And we’d go dancing to the sea.

Crystal and clear — so you appear,
but so do tears…
Captive fountain.

Secrets we’re keeping hidden, unspeaking,
together weeping.
You and me.

All around us — wilderness.
No oasis safe to rest
Desert hearts and desert lands.
But as water
slips through fingers,
maybe we can slip away to freedom?
Forever leave them…
and we’ll go dancing to the sea.

Maybe we can find a way…
Find a way to slip away…
and together, you and me…
and we’ll go dancing to the sea.

12) A GENERATION OF VIPERS

John:
There is a generation
that curse their fathers,
revile their mothers,
and are strangers to their brothers
in the land.

There is a generation
and in their own eyes,
so pure are they, so wise.
And yet they are unclean,
a prey to shadows of the land.

There is a generation
their eyes look up, even to heaven
sanctimoniously.
But what does heaven see:

A generation of vipers!
coiled, hissing, ready to strike.
Poison prepared for friend
and foe alike!
You generation of vipers!
sly, spiteful, jealous of all
turning the world’s sweetness into gall.

There is a generation
with teeth like swords
and jaws that grind…
devouring the poor from the earth, scouring the needy from the land.

A generation of vipers!
bitter your hearts, and dark your souls!
Eager for the whole earth
under your control!
You generation of vipers!
For the moment, you may smile
sting hidden in the sweetness of your guile.

13) SHOW US THE WAY

John:
Seek the Lord who may be found
in living word and sacred ground.
Be made clean by sand and wind.
Let the Jordan river wash away your sins.

pilgrims:
You are our light —
our hope and help.
You come to save us
from ourselves.
You are the way —
help us, we pray.
Save us from shadows.
Show us the way,

The way… The truth… The light…

John:
Why can’t they understand?
I am only the messenger.
I am not the man.

14) FREE

Salome:
Free…
Ah, I have dreamed of being free.
So clear to see
that if water can run free
why not you and me.

Talitha:
And as soon as someone sees,
that’s the end of being free.

Freedom is only a mirage,
just a shimmering mirage,
a deadly beckoning mirage.
The vision you think you see
will never come to be.

Salome:
Free.
Surely your God has made you free…
for you speak free.

John:
I speak what God commands me.
How can that be free?

Talitha:
And if the one to come
the man in your prophecy
should come to be?
Will you then be free?

John:
Or will it be the end of me?

Talitha:
Free.
Ah, there is no such thing as free.
It’s clear to me —
that nobody is truly free.
Try to be free
and as soon as someone sees,
that’s the end of being free.

Freedom is only a mirage,
just a shimmering mirage,
a deadly beckoning mirage.
The vision you think you see
will never come to be.

15) QUESTIONS

theme 1:
Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2:
We … don’t understand?
Who… who is this man?
Why… why is he here?
All … is unclear as can be.
reprise

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2,
Sanhedrin chorus:
Righteous are we.
We obey faithfully.
Why choose this man… over me?

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2:
Day… following day.
We… hear this man say,
that… he shows the way.
Who… who knows the way but us?

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2,
Sanhedrin chorus:
Only one way
for the ones who obey.
Why choose this man… over me?

theme 2:
Sanhedrin chorus:
Rules and laws are meant for following,
God created them for following.
Righteous men are made by following
God’s commandments without
questioning.
Any man who dares try questioning
isn’t sent by God, so why is he
claiming that he’s sent to show the way?
Only righteous men can know the way!
Upright, godly men like you and me!
The truth’s our responsibility,
to disagree is blasphemy!
We must bring him down, it’s clear to see.
Truly this man is God’s enemy.

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2
Sanhedrin chorus:
Righteous are we.
We obey faithfully.
Why choose this man… over me?

Only one way
for the ones who obey.
Why choose this man… over me?

theme 1:
Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2:
We… don’t understand?
Why… God chose this man?
Why… not one of us?
un… fair and unjust
to us.

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2
Sanhedrin chorus:
Righteous are we.
We obey faithfully.
Why choose this man… over me?

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2:
Day… following day.
Why… why must he say,
say… he shows the way?
Who… knows the true way, but we?

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2,
Sanhedrin chorus:
Only one way…
for the ones who obey.
Why choose this man… over me?

Annas, Caiaphas, scribe 1 and 2
Sanhedrin chorus:
Righteous are we.
We obey faithfully.
Why choose this man… over me?

Only one way
for the ones who obey.
Why choose this man… over me?

16) TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

Annas:
He’s too good to be true,
too outspoken, too bold,
like a wildfire, burning.
He’s out of control.
He threatens us all,
whether he means to, or no.
He’s a true man of God
and he’s got to go.

Sanhedrin chorus:
We don’t understand
God’s choice of this man.
If there was, indeed a choice,
if God actually gave this man voice,
and if it’s not clear to us,
the upright, the righteous, the pious,
how can the crowd choose this man
and turn from us?
If God wants men who are righteous,
why doesn’t God come to us!

A respectable Messiah…
proper, predictable, according
to plan.
The Lord we trust and follow
would surely send us
such a man.

No disreputable Messiah…
so scruffy and rude…
a disgrace of a man.
Surely the Lord would never
choose and send us such a man.

And we will know him
when we see him.
And he will know us, too.
And until then, we righteous men
will do what we must do.

17) WHAT DO YOU SEE?

crowd:
Who is it?
Is it him?
Who is it?
Who is it?
Tell me, tell me, what do you see?
Tell me is he the one?

*
crowd:
Who is it?
Is it him?
Who is it?
Who is it?
Tell me, tell me, what do you see?
Tell me is he the one?

*
John:
”Behold the lamb of God,
who takes away the sins of the world. ”

*
crowd:
It is!
It isn’t!
It’s him!
It’s not!
Tell me, tell me, what do you see?

*
Judas:
Tell me is he the one?
I must go. I must see.

18) IT IS FINISHED

crowd:
The man is gone.
Was he the one?
We must know.
We must go. We must see.

We will follow him.
We will follow him.
Heaven points the way.

*
John:
It is finished.
My part is done.
And the new work
now has begun.

Prophecies fulfilled
for all to see.
Promises of old
have come to be.

What now Lord?
Speak to me.
Now Lord, what of me?

Dove descending
brings a new day.
Old world ending
passing away.

All the crowds have gone.
and I’m alone.
Now the future seems
dark and unknown.

What now Lord?
Silence… Lord?
Ah, now… Lord, what of me?

ACT II

19) WEARY, SO WEARY

chorus:
Weary, so weary…
Faith is a journey.
Endless, endless, on and on
Til it seems all hope is gone.
Where the road goes, we don’t know.
Still the journey goes on, even so…

Weary, so weary…
Why must we journey?
Long days, long nights…
no ending in sight.
Where we’re going we don’t know.
But we started long ago.
Pilgrims on a path unknown…
Carved from dust and desert sand
and stone…

20) LET ME BE YOUR FRIEND

Herod:
I think the time has come, the time you
really need a friend.
I want to be your friend.
Oh, let me be your friend.

Nobody else around here is prepared
to be your friend.
But I will be your friend.
Please let me be your friend.

Why don’t you trust me?
Trust me… it’s just me!
Come on and try me…
Ah, don’t deny me,
the privilege of becoming your friend.

Your God won’t give you
what I can give you.
He’s gone and left you…
but I won’t leave you til the end.

You really have no choice, you really
need me for a friend.
Just say the word, my friend.
And I will be your friend.

It’s very clear to see that you are not
your own best friend.
But I will be your friend.
Please let me be your friend.

You’re all alone and lonely people
always need a friend…
And yet you have no friends…
Oh, let me be your friend.

Come on and trust me.
Why won’t you trust me?
I’d never hurt you….
I won’t desert you…
Why be my enemy…
when you can be my friend?

Ah, stop debating…
and start relating…
So what the world’s forgot you…
but I’ll be with you til the end.

You have no choice, you know
you have to be my friend.
Just say the word, my friend.
And i will be your friend.

Let me be your friend.
I could be your friend.
Such a helpful friend…
Loyal to the end…
Let me be your friend.
Let me be your friend.

21) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ME

Herod:
The gospel according to me —
it’s easy to follow and clear.
Do whatever you want
and don’t get caught.
You’re as good as you appear… to be…
with the gospel according to me.

Preach the gospel according to me.
I promise you’ll never go wrong.
Look out for yourself.
Never offer to help…
make it up as you go along…. you’ll see…
with the gospel according to me.

John:
The gospel accordpng to you?

Herod:
The gospel according to me.

John:
If I do what you want?

Herod:
And nothing I don’t…
there’s a fair chance that you’ll soon be free…
with the gospel according to me.

22) WHO SHOULD I FOLLOW?

Judas:
Who should I follow?
A prophet?
A savior?
A river?
Myself?
Who should I follow?

I look at the jordan
and all I see
is a river, flowing endlessly.
but nothing that speaks to me.

I look at the scriptures
and all I see
words and more words —
speaking endlessly
but nothing that speaks to me.

spoken:
I saw him. A man alone — in the desert.
In the wilderness of the world.
Uncompromising.
Speaking truth to power.

That was John.
Could that be me?

Prophesying to the wind,
To the sky, to locusts and jackals,
desert mice and birds.
And yes, to us.
That was John.
That could be me.

spoken:
And we, in our degrees of power…we
listened.
We could not help but hear his voice.
Harsh, hot, dry, scouring…
relentless as a desert storm.

That was John. That could be me.
And it could be the new man…
this Jesus.

23) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ME II

Sanhedrin:
The gospel according to us —
just stick to the rules we lay down.
Do whatever we want
and nothing we don’t.
And you’ll find the peace we’ve found… trust us!
with the gospel according to us.

Preach the gospel accordpng to us.
We promise that we’ll steer you right.
Put our interests first…
and curse what we curse…
We promise you’ll see the light… like us!
with the gospel according to us.

24) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ME III

Judas:
The gospel according to them—
They tell me it’s based on the law.
There’s no questions, no doubt…
I’m told: just be devout…
so why can’t I just shout out: ’Amen’…
to the gospel according to them?

*
The gospel according to me—
How strange the words sound in my ear…
yet they comfort me, too
And it’s clear what to do…
Find the one whose prophesy agrees
with the gospel according to me.

25) POWER IS A DANCE

Herodias:
Power…
that’s all there is in life is power.
And trust me, for women, power is a dance.

The only goal in life is power.
Man strive and kill all over power.
But power will come to women
if we dance.

Men think they’re wise.
but all men have eyes.
Dazzle those eyes.
Sweetly hypnotize…
Dance til they can’t see.
Dancing is the key…
the key to victory.

You’ll find that men will give you power.
All that intoxicating power.
Ah, power… is it not worth
one little dance?

Power…
Men are so greedy over power.
But still they surrender power for a dance.

They think their swords will win them power…
Their lies and schemes will buy
them power….
How easy… to steal it from them
in a dance.

Distract their eyes.
Tease and tantalize.
They’ll trust your lies.
Power is the prize.
Dance til they can’t see.
Dancing is the key…
we’ll dance in victory.

And soon they’ll hand over their power.
Like fools, they’ll give up all their power.
Sweet power…. and all you have to do is dance…

And all you have to do is dance… dance…
Yes, all you have to do is dance… dance…
Yes, all you have to do is dance… dance…
Yes, all you have to do is… dance.

*
Salome:
Power…
That’s all they dream about is power.
It seems I… have power
only when I dance…

Talitha:
There are so many kinds of power…
You can be safe if you have power…
Sweet power…and all it costs you is a dance.

Salome and Talitha:
Power’s a name
for an endless game.
But there is no shame…
if you win the game.
Dance and we might see
Dancing is the key
the key to victory…

A dance to win the game of power…
all that intoxicating power…
Ah, power… is it not worth one little dance?

Talitha:
And all you have to do is dance…. dance…

Salome:
And all I have to do is dance… dance…

Salome and Talitha:
And all we have to do is… dance.

26) SLIPPERY STUFF

Herod:
Never, no never trust water,
for water is slippery stuff.
You try… but there’s no way to hold onto
water…
Be wary… it is slippery stuff.

Too little you thirst and too much you
will drown.
You will find there’s no safe ground.
Trust… and you just sink down.
Salt water or sweet, fountain, river or creek or the wild restless ocean.
You still can drown…

Never trust water.
oh, never trust water.
Solid ground rather—
than treacherous water.
Never trust water…
No, never trust water…
Those who trust water…
sink sooner or later.
Never trust water.

*
Herod and Josephus:
All prophecy is like water…
elusive, slippery stuff.
The words and the sense slide away just like water. Beware of such slippery stuff.

Too little, too late, and you always
must wait
for some promise to be fulfilled.
And….still there’s no meaning.
entangled in words that are wild and absurd
that keep dragging you down…
until you drown.

Never trust water.
oh, never trust water.
solid ground rather —
than treacherous water.
Never trust water…
No, never trust water…
those who trust water…
drown sooner or later
never trust water…
oh, never trust water.

27) SLIPPERY STUFF reprise

Herod:
Women…
No never trust women.
like water, they’re slippery stuff.
You try… but there’s no way to
understand women…
Be wary… they are slippery stuff.

Never trust water.
oh, never trust water.
Solid ground rather —
than treacherous water.
Never trust water…
no, never trust water…
Those who trust water…
sink sooner or later.
Never trust water.

28) THIS RIVER OF LIFE

Septimus:
This river of life….
This river you love
This river—with angels
and voices above….
What makes it so special?
Explain it to me.
This Jordan river?
slowly flowing…
slowly flowing…
flowing down to a Dead sea.

Septimus and Talitha:
What does it mean that there’s nothing…
when you come to the river’s end?
Nothing but salt and sand and flies….
Nothing but false hope
hidden in lies….
Nothing but death at the end.

Septimus, Talitha and Salome:
This river of life…
This river you love
This river—with angels
and voices above…
What makes it so special?
Explain it to me.
What’s with this Jordan river?
flowing down…
down… down to a Dead sea.

Salome:
Why not stay here with the rest of us.

Talitha:
Not making waves
Not stirring things up…

John:
Safe in the calm of a stagnant pond?

Talitha:
Why not settle for less?

Septimus:
Why put your God to the test?

29) WHAT DID YOU GO OUT TO SEE?

Judas:
What did you go out into the wilderness
to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A man in raiment fine?
Those in fine clothing are found in palaces, not in a desert wilderness.
So, what did you go out into the
wilderness to see?
A prophet? A man of God?
Yes, I tell you, yes and more…
More than a prophet.
For John is he of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke:

’Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you,
who shall prepare your way before you.’

Truly, truly I tell you,
among those born of women,
no one greater has risen
than John the Baptist.
reprise

And yet, least in the kingdom of heaven…
the least of these is greater than he…
Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.

30) JOHNS PRAYER

John:
For my eyes have seen
What God foretold through me…
And despair and even death
shall never reach me ever again
under the shadow…
under the shadow of thy wings…

31) DANCE OF THE HERODIANS

Herodias:
Turn by turn, we wait our turn
within the dance to take our turn again.
The music drives our steps and missteps,
and leaves us breathless at the end!
Ladies, gentlemen—
time to bow and bend
in a dance that can never ever end.
Turn and turn until the moment when…

We seize the chance to call the tune…
Will it happen soon?
Time to take control..
Seize a starring role…
in the shifting pattern,
power’s all that matters now…

And so we turn and turn again…
never knowing when
a quick glide and sway
sends the dance our way…
So come foe and friend…
come turn, turn and turn again.

Herodias and Herodians chorus:
Turn by turn, we wait and burn
within the dance to take our turn again.
The music drives relentlessly on
and we’re all breathless at the end!
Ladies, gentlemen—
time to bow and bend
in a dance that can never ever end.
Turn and turn until the moment when…

We seize our chance to call the tune…
make it happen soon!
Time to take control…
seize a starring role…
in the shifting pattern,
Power’s all that matters now…

And so we turn and turn again…
never knowing when
a quick glide and sway
sends the dance our way…
So come foe and friend…
come turn, turn and turn again.

So come foe and friend…
come turn, turn and turn again.

32) THE DEATH SENTENCE

Herod:
By the will and decree of
king Herod,
also known as Herod Antipater,
tetrarch and ruler of
Galilee and Perea,
This night, the prisoner called John,
also known as the Baptist,
is sentenced to death by beheading…

Herod and Herodias:
By the will and decree of
king Herod,
also known as Herod Antipater,
tetrarch and ruler of
Galilee and Perea,
This night, the prisoner called John,
also known as the Baptist,
is sentenced to death by beheading…

33) RIVER JORDAN

John and Salome:
River Jordan.
roll on Jordan.
Here we stand on your shore…
make us clean once more.
Roll Jordan, roll
over our shadowed souls.

Oh, mighty river Jordan
Nehar ha Yarden.
Where we’re bound, where we go…
Trust the river to know.
In mercy, flow…
over all shadowed souls.

Free from sorrow and sin,
let a new life begin,
fountaining up from within.
As deep and deeper we strive,
river Jordan, your tide will carry us
safe where God’s mercy abides.

34) THE DEATH SENTENCE reprise

Josephus:
By the will and decree of
king Herod,
also known as Herod Antipater,
tetrarch and ruler of
Galilee and Perea,
This night, the prisoner called John,
also known as the Baptist,
is sentenced to death by beheading…

35) RIVER JORDAN

Salome:
River Jordan…
roll on Jordan.
Here we stand on your shore…
make us clean once more.
Roll Jordan, roll
over our shadowed….
our shadowed…

36) ONCE THERE WAS A MAN

pilgrims, Herod, Herodias, Salome,
Talitha, Annas, Judas and Josephus:
Once there was a man—
but who was he?
At the end, what do we know?
Was he sent by God?
Just who was he?
Do we really want to know?

Now the man is gone.
and yet—is he?
His words echo down the years.
Those who silenced him—
are long silenced…
Yet his message still rings clear.

Josephus:
All stories have an end.

Salome:
Yet his will never end…

Judas:
Witness to the light…

Josephus and Judas, Salome and Talitha:
Beacon in the night
that without him might have no end.

Herod and Herodias:
Death—that should be the end…
Death—the great Amen.
Now our part is done…
and a new begun…

pilgrims, Herod, Herodias, Salome, Talitha, Annas, Judas and Josephus:
Will his message sing again?

Once there was a man—
just who was he?
Was he more than he appeared?
We thought we were wise…
and yet, were we?
Did we really see him clear?

There, by Jordan’s bank,
this man promised
that a Light would soon appear.
When he spoke to us,
did we listen?
Did we only heed our fears?

Salome and Talitha:
So forsaken and alone….

Josephus and Judas:
A man without a home…

Herod, Herodias, Salome, Talitha, Annas, Judas and Josephus:
Just a man that’s gone
to a grave unknown
Yet that grave’s a cornerstone…

pilgrims, Herod, Herodias, Salome, Talitha, Annas, Judas and Josephus:
Death—is not the end…
Now—starts a new Amen.
Now our part is done…
Now the Light has come…
Now his message lives again.

Once there was a man…
but who was he?
Maybe just a man…
And yet, was he?
Once there was a man…
ah, who is he?

37) RIVER JORDAN – FINALE

Salome:
River Jordan
roll on Jordan.
Here we stand on your shore…
make us clean once more.
Roll jordan, roll
over our shadowed souls.

Herod, Herodias, Salome, Talitha, Annas, Judas, Josephus, Septimus and chorus:
Oh, mighty river Jordan
Nehar ha Yarden.
Where we’re bound, where we go…
Trust the river to know.
In mercy, flow…
over all shadowed souls.

Free from sorrow and sin,
Let a new life begin,
fountaining up from within.
As deep and deeper we strive,
river Jordan, your tide will carry us
safe where God’s mercy abides.
reprise

He showed us the River of life.
He said it could wash away our fear.
He said there was hope for us all.
John the Baptist:
”He is the one that is to come.
That is to come, the one that is to come.”