Joab
Into the wilderness out on his own praying, crying for
Signs of divine intervention but deep in his soul
Faith in himself and his Maker most certainly dying for
lack of hope, loss of face, loss of will
Like a hunted partridge on the hill
Like a hunted partridge on the hill
Saul
David has betrayed
Privilege and high position
Every move I made
To ensure his recognition
Every accolade
Handed to this cheap musician
May he rot in hell
Or at least in barren places
Daughter, can't you tell?
Every breath he takes debases
You and me as well
Shames, humiliates, disgraces--
But I can
Humiliate him too
For I am giving you
To another man!
Michal
Do what you like with me
What difference could it make?
Not even David is my master
I love him very much
But I have more at stake
I'm not part of your disaster
Joab
Saul in his court, breathing fire, losing touch with reality
David forced out to the badlands beyond Saul's control
Slowly, supporters moved in to this bleakest locality
But they're few, they are wild, he is still
Like a hunted partridge on the hill
Like a hunted partridge on the hill
David
Lunacy prevails
Melancholy voices crying
Rumors, stories, tales
News of Saul is terrifying
Flying off the rails
Israel, your soul is dying
If I am accused
By a manic king of treason
If I am abused
If the madman puts the squeeze on
If I am refused
Justice then there is no reason
To lie low
Might as well commit
The crime, be done with it
Nothing left to lose! And so . . .
Come to me, fight with me, rescue our race from insanity
Cousins and brothers and strangers, my saviors are found
Four hundred, six hundred just a small slice of humanity
But a great humane task to fulfill
Join the hunted partridge on the hill
David and Men
Join the hunted partridge on the hill
David
My friends you have given me hope
In my darkest and loneliest hour
Abandoning homes or positions of safety
And comfort and power
As years have gone by we go stronger
No longer with backs to the wall
If only the lion in the path were anyone but Saul
Joab
Saul is now merely a shadow of the man that he was in his prime
Still dogged by the Philistine menace, at war with himself half the time
Distracted, confused, and uncertain, he should not concern us at all
David
If only the lion in the path were anyone but Saul!
Saul! Saul!
I came to your camp as you dreamed and in competent guardians slept
I could have destroyed you in moments but plundered no booty except
Your spear and your water, a trifling, unbloody and merciful haul
If only the lion in the path were anyone but Saul
Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
Saul
David--is this my son, Davide?
Why spare the life of the man who is all that's preventing you
Claiming the crown that you've craved since I first took you in?
The man who has given Michal to another, tormenting you
David
Michal, Michal, given to another . . .
Saul
Surely you have by now had your fill
David
You gave her to another . . .
Saul
As the hunted partridge on the hill
David I'm the hunted partridge on the hill
Saul As the hunted partridge on the hill
Saul
But then again--how many women do you have now? And children?
And heirs? How is your dynasty?
David
I have a beautiful son to succeed me--Absalom
My Absalom
Saul
To succeed you as what?
Who do you think you are?
What do you think you are?
I do not understand why you did not kill mee--
David
I would not kill you
I could not kill you
Saul
You will regret your arrogance your so-called mercy
You are no longer my son, David!
David
Oh, Michal!
How could you agree
To be given to another?
Michal
Do what you like with me . . .
David
Does no woman see
Whether daughter, mistress, mother--
Michael
What difference could it make?
David
Man is on the run
Every day of his existence?
Every single one
Has to keep a little distance
Tell me what I've done
To deserve your inconsistence
Why you think
I don't have a heart
Joab and Chorus
Hunted like the partridge on the hill
David
Do I have a heart?
Joab and Chorus
Hunted like the partridge on the hill
David
Do I have a heart?
Joab and Chorus
Hunted like the partridge on the
David, Joab and Chorus
Hill
Men
Hunted like a partridge on the
David, Joab, and Chorus
Hunted partridge on the
Men
Hill
David, Joab, and Chorus
Hill
Men
Hunted partridge
All
On the hill
Hunted Partridge on the Hill
The Long, Long Day/This New Jerusalem
David
The long, long day is slipping into sunset
The laughter of the young a foreign sound
The splendor of the earth less captivating
I am waiting
The voices that I hear are too respectful
The arguments a little too profound
I only want a gentle hand to stay me
As they lay me in the ground
And yet I'm not afraid
A kind of peace is made
Forgiven, I am happy to be called
Everything I've done I now rejoice in
Everyone I've loved I love once more
Would there had been many more diversions
To beg forgiveness for
It's only in the wake
Of evening that we make
Some sense and see the beauty of the day
And when the darkness falls
The thought that gets us by
Is knowing that we do not need
To know God's reason why
Solomon
I am the blood of Abraham
The seed of an immortal line
Whose life was given to his God
Whose promise to his God is mine
And to this new Jerusalem
Our fathers come at last
Bathsheba and Michal
The sons of Jacob live again
All
The glories of our sacred past
Jerusalem, Jerusalem
Though palaces may rise
Within your walls,
Your dust, your stones
Are prize enough
For these contended
Eyes
Never Again
Michal
Home is the hunter, high flown and contended
Home is my lover, all sins were repented
Noble intentions, words oh so fine
Never again will you let me down,
Never again will I pine,
Never again will you call yourself mine.
Why did you change so? No real explanation
Still unaware of my humiliation
Calmly expecting life to go on
Never again will I be ashamed,
Never again put upon,
Never again will I turn and you're gone.
I'd give my life to believe nothing has happened.
I'd give my heart to the man I once knew.
Oh how you loved me: Strong, passionate, gentle!
Now you perceive me all but incidental,
Words count for nothing, only for show
Never again will I suffer this,
Never again fall so low,
Never again, but there's one thing I know
Never again, Never again
Never again will I love a man so.
Sheer Perfection
Michal
I do not come to you reluctant or protesting
I'm not a trophy as so many are suggesting
I give myself because I choose to
Could walk out but I refuse to
I wanted you before your triumph
I wanted you in simple ways
But I'll accept you in your glory days
You're all I'll ever want
You have my innocence
David
There's more than beauty here
There's more than innocence
She knows exactly what she's doing
I'll take her on her terms
She has the confidence
To stand aside and be amused by those pursuing
She already knows what's in my heart
Knows just how to set herself apart
She believes she knows it all
Who am I to contradict her?
She makes all the rules
Men are merely fools
If we think we run the game
Sheer perfection is to blame
But I'm so much in love
I need to make it last
Be in no hurry to impress her
I'd throw it all away
If I should move to fast
I'd never touch her heart, let alone possess her
She may say she wants me but I know
Words are only words, they come and go
She is all I hope I'll need
From this day until forever
Nothing more nor less
All my restlessness
All my selfishness and pride
Disappears as I decide
I shall never be denied
Sheer perfection at my side