SONG: 

“Hidden Corners of the Heart”

 

[NOTE: Originally written as Emperor's solo, recorded here as duet with Mundo, should go back to Emperor's solo]

          

(The Emperor’s private throne room. Music. Darkness. Faintly visible, the Emperor half-naked, backside to the audience. As the Emperor sings, Mach, Potts and Pitts come forward in turns and “dress” him. See note on nudity on Concept page.)

 

     Emperor         

Words, words everywhere,

And not a drop of truth.

Millions and millions of words in the air…

 

NO ROCK, NO HILL.

THERE’S NO PLACE TO STAND.

NO MOUNTAIN, NO TEMPLE,

NO FEET ON SOLID LAND.

ALL OUR CHERISHED IDOLS

HAVE PERISHED IN THE SAND.

 

WIND AND WHISPERS,

ECHOES EVERYWHERE.

ONLY VOICES OVER VOICES,

CONFUSING EVERY PRAYER.

ALL OUR WORDS MAKE PICTURES

THAT VANISH IN THE AIR.

 

SOMEWHERE IN HIDDEN CORNERS OF THE HEART.

SOMEWHERE A TINY VOICE MAY START.

LISTEN TO THE DISTANT CALL.

LISTEN TO THAT QUIET ALL.

TURN IT AROUND IN THE EYE OF YOUR SOUL,

HOLD IT AS TRUTH FROM AN ANCIENT SCROLL.

MAKE IT BE A LIGHT IN THE DARK.

MAKE IT BLAZE FROM ITS TINY SPARK.

 

            (The Emperor turns full front.)

 

WHITE, ALL WHITE

AS A CLOUD-SKY BRIGHT.

BLACK, ALL BLACK

AS A STARLESS NIGHT.

HOW CAN I SAY

WHAT IS WRONG OR RIGHT?

 

SOMEWHERE IN HIDDEN CORNERS OF THE HEART.

SOMEWHERE A TINY VOICE MAY START.

WHATEVER IT MAY BE,

WHATEVER IT DECREE.

HOLD IT UP TO THE EYE OF YOUR SOUL.

LET IT BE YOUR HIGH AND WHOLE.

HAVE IT BE THE THING YOU BELIEVE

A BLESSED PLACE YOU WON’T EVER LEAVE.

AND SPEAK IT AS THOUGH A LIGHT INSIDE AWOKE.

SPEAK IT AS THOUGH ALL THE FORCE OF THE UNIVERSE

     . . . SPOKE!

 

No! No! I cannot! I am the emperor. I must preserve the way things are!

            (to someone not there)

Mundo, Mundo, my friend. Carry your torch, burn bright. I am charred midnight.

​

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