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
The Death of Saul
Hunted Partridge on the Hill
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
You Have It All
Saul
Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands
Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands
Jonathan
Saul's going mad, because your every move outshines him
He sees the multitude embrace you
His people love you but your triumph undermines him
He loves you too but cannot face you
You're that uncommon thing--a hero
Which gives you all the love you need
And how it must destroy him to concede
This is the time for you
You have it all
You can do anything
You're standing tall
This is your golden age
You will recall
In quieter times than these that you once had it all
Chorus
Saul has slain his thousands
And David his ten thousands
Jonathan
O lucky man!
The world is yours, embracing you
And all you hear are people saying "Yes"
Chorus
Saul has slain his thousands
And David his ten thousands
Jonathan
The pace is hot
The power brokers chasing you
The lesser mortals clamor too
All of this, and glamour too
That's happiness--I guess
David
I love my friend as I love life and both I cherish
Uncompromising and unfailing
I swear this covenant we make will never perish
In any circumstance prevailing
Jonathan
It's very hard when things come easy
You start to fear a bitter end
I promise you, you have a friend
This is the time for you
You have it all
You can do anything
You're standing tall
Jonathan and David
This is our golden age
We will recall
In safer times than these that we once had it all
Jonathan
In better times than these that we once had it all
The Enemy Within
Saul
The terrors of the field
The horrors of the battle
The ruthless and the bloody sword
All these I can allow
They almost seem like friends
And death a gentle rattle
The enemy within
Is all I'm fighting now
The father's last good-bye
The lover's first deception
The child who loses innocence
The hungry mouths dismissed
All these we learn to give
A casual reception
The enemy within
Is harder to resist
No form, no shape, no light
The enemy is hidden
I have no will to fight
Yet surrender is forbidden
The dogs are on the run
Their venom ever nearer
And every moment clearer
That their will be done
My crime is unexplained
So cannot be defended
The judge and executioner
Close in upon the throne
There are no outward signs
The majesty is ended
The enemy within
Has come to claim his own
Israel and Saul
Israelites
Saul . . .
Saul . . .
Israel and Saul
What a combination
Samuel a relic from a dreadful past
Saul will bring us peace
Power and elation
All we ever needed was a change of cast
Now we have a king
Now we are competing
Enemies retreating; we are free at last
Samuel
"Make them a king!
Calm their hysteria!"
Thus said the Lord and I obeyed His call
Now see them cling
To someone so inferior
Mad, capricious
Sad, ambitious
Saul!
Israelite Women
Saul is our defense!
Glorious, resplendent
Savior of a people who have been betrayed
Israelites
Kings ar emaking sense
Israel ascendant
Holy men have failed us at the barricade
Let us praise our king
Practical, pragmatic
Victories emphatic now the change is made
Saul
We were oppressed
Failed by theocracy
Failed by its prophets who had lost their nerve
Now they protest
Oh, such hypocrisy
If allowed to
I am proud to serve
Israelites
Saul is in his pomp!
Saul is our redeemer!
Saul has brought his people back to life again
Glory as we swamp
Every vile blasphemer
Every single enemy we hold profane
Glory to King Saul!
All we every prayed for
Finally we've paid for all the years of pain
Israelites & Saul
Finally we've paid for all the years of pain