The Death of Saul

Saul
The terrors of the field
The horrors of the battle . . .

My crime is unexplained
So cannot be defended
The shepherd and the Philistines
Close in . . .

I may be cut down
In the field of battle
Be exterminated by the Philistine
But the cause of death
Will not be the heathen
Will not be some man whose sword dispatches mine
David is the one!
David, my assassin
David planned disposal of me long ago
He alone the cause
Of my degradation
Whether there or not to deal the final blow
Why has the Lord deserted me?
Samuel talk to me, Samuel talk to me, Samuel talk to me . . .

Ghost of Samuel
What can you want of me?
You from whom the Lord has departed?
He has taken the kingdom from your hand
and given it to David
Because you did not obey the word of the Lord
He will deliver Israel to its enemies
And tomorrow you and your sons will die
On the fields of Gilboa

Saul
Now I understand
Everything that's happened
Every gruesome prophecy has come to pass
All, that is, but one
Yet to be delivered,
I have still to sink into the vile morass
All my sons are dead
Jonathan, you failed me
Couldn't stay alive to help your father die
Jonathan, you fool
Put your faith in David
Trusted the seducer--the deceiver--why?

The dogs are on the run
Their venom ever nearer
And every moment clearer
That their will be done
What kind of crime provokes
Eternal persecution?
What kind of God would kill a man
So easy to destroy?
I fall upon my sword
But that is no solution
The enemy within
Still loves the shepherd boy