IN THE COURT OF ALKINOOS
Part One
The Spell
Athene:
The hero alone, forlorn and weary
Slumbered in darkness dreary
So, leaving him I swiftly sped
To chase the moonlight whence it fled
To find for him a savior
I sought her out, a princess fair
Who seemed a goddess lying there
'Neath the starlight, mid the gloom
None fairer born of mortal womb
I wove a spell to snare her
Athene:
Get thee to the water
Nausikaa
I'll rise come the morning
Athene:
Get thee to the water
Nausikaa:
I'll rise come the daybreak
Athene:
Get thee to the water
For one is waiting there
A wild thing cast upon the shore
Human wreckage the tempest tore
And you I have chosen
Nausikaa:
I will go to the water
Athene:
And you I have chosen
Part Two
Nausikaa
Nausikaa:
Daybreak, I must awake now
Something bids me go
Come now my fair attendants
For there is something I must know
Waiting for me
Down by the sea
Dreaming, dreaming
All sing:
Grab the white dress and the linen
Hitch the team and follow me
Dreaming, the princess saw a wedding
She thinks the time is right to marry
Nausikaa:
There are days like Heaven
Spent beneath the sun
Play now, for we're but maidens
And life has only just begun
Waiting for me
Down by the sea
All sing:
Rising, the hero looks the savage
Waking, a lion fit to rage
Yet now the princess will not cower
Fearless, fearless is she!
Part Three
Odysseus
Odysseus:
Where am I?
What fell thing is seeking now to gore me?
Where am I?
No one-eyed giants standing now before me?
I just want to go home!
Where am I?
And who this goddess? Have you come to aid me?
Where am I?
Or should I curse again the gods that made me?
I just want to go home!
Nausikaa:
Come, follow if you will
I'll lead you somewhere
A city shining bright
A ship you will find there
My father is the King
'Tis he you must query
He'll think you are the man
That I'm meant to marry!
Part Four
The King
King Alkinoos:
He knelt before the throne of the hallowed prince
And there he made his supplication known
They never knew - 'twas the sacker of cities
And for his sake the truth could not be shown
The king was moved as the hero told his tale
Of weary travels ore the stormy foam
He'd give his daughter to this hero kneeling there
And grant a ship and crew to speed him home
Nausikaa:
Waiting for me
Down by the sea
All sing:
First the king declares a feast
Now the hero's need is withheld
Lo, his head is dipped in sorrow
He is waiting for tomorrow
Waiting
Waiting
King Alkinoos:
Call forth the blind one
To sing us a story
Of swords and of fire
Of battle and glory
Nausikaa:
Oh sing to us of warriors bold
For we have heard a legend told
Of one doomed to sail the sea
In search of his love
But never to find her
Part Five
The Singer
Demodokos:
"Hear his story
Hearken well now
For this hero
Hath angered the gods!"
All sing:
To his torment
There before him
Sang the singer
A song of his doom
Odysseus:
Say no more
Say no more
All sing:
No one sees that
Tears are flowing
No one knows that
Here sits the one
Sing on singer
Sing unceasing
You have brought low
The hero of the ages
Odysseus:
Say no more
Say no more
All sing:
Sing on singer
Sing unceasing
You have brought low
The hero of the ages
Part Six
The Dance
(Instrumental)
Part Seven
The Competition
(Instrumental)
Part Eight
Wounding One Hero
Demodokos and Choir:
The feasting complete
The songs have been sung
The games have been won
A champion crowned
Demodokos and Odysseus:
Once was a man, who by ruse of war
Gained access to the city of Troy and all its wealth
Now comes a man, who by craft of words
Hath broken down the gates of the hero's heart
There is but one, one hero who will conquer
From Heaven up above - God of glory and of love
Here is my gift, my ruse of war, my Trojan Horse
For to His glory I'll sing forever more.
King Alkinoos:
No! Stop this madness now!
Can't you see? He's broken down with sorrow
While you sing of heroes, of riddles and of gods
There remains one question
And I would have my answer now
What is your name?
Part One
The Spell
Athene:
The hero alone, forlorn and weary
Slumbered in darkness dreary
So, leaving him I swiftly sped
To chase the moonlight whence it fled
To find for him a savior
I sought her out, a princess fair
Who seemed a goddess lying there
'Neath the starlight, mid the gloom
None fairer born of mortal womb
I wove a spell to snare her
Athene:
Get thee to the water
Nausikaa
I'll rise come the morning
Athene:
Get thee to the water
Nausikaa:
I'll rise come the daybreak
Athene:
Get thee to the water
For one is waiting there
A wild thing cast upon the shore
Human wreckage the tempest tore
And you I have chosen
Nausikaa:
I will go to the water
Athene:
And you I have chosen
Part Two
Nausikaa
Nausikaa:
Daybreak, I must awake now
Something bids me go
Come now my fair attendants
For there is something I must know
Waiting for me
Down by the sea
Dreaming, dreaming
All sing:
Grab the white dress and the linen
Hitch the team and follow me
Dreaming, the princess saw a wedding
She thinks the time is right to marry
Nausikaa:
There are days like Heaven
Spent beneath the sun
Play now, for we're but maidens
And life has only just begun
Waiting for me
Down by the sea
All sing:
Rising, the hero looks the savage
Waking, a lion fit to rage
Yet now the princess will not cower
Fearless, fearless is she!
Part Three
Odysseus
Odysseus:
Where am I?
What fell thing is seeking now to gore me?
Where am I?
No one-eyed giants standing now before me?
I just want to go home!
Where am I?
And who this goddess? Have you come to aid me?
Where am I?
Or should I curse again the gods that made me?
I just want to go home!
Nausikaa:
Come, follow if you will
I'll lead you somewhere
A city shining bright
A ship you will find there
My father is the King
'Tis he you must query
He'll think you are the man
That I'm meant to marry!
Part Four
The King
King Alkinoos:
He knelt before the throne of the hallowed prince
And there he made his supplication known
They never knew - 'twas the sacker of cities
And for his sake the truth could not be shown
The king was moved as the hero told his tale
Of weary travels ore the stormy foam
He'd give his daughter to this hero kneeling there
And grant a ship and crew to speed him home
Nausikaa:
Waiting for me
Down by the sea
All sing:
First the king declares a feast
Now the hero's need is withheld
Lo, his head is dipped in sorrow
He is waiting for tomorrow
Waiting
Waiting
King Alkinoos:
Call forth the blind one
To sing us a story
Of swords and of fire
Of battle and glory
Nausikaa:
Oh sing to us of warriors bold
For we have heard a legend told
Of one doomed to sail the sea
In search of his love
But never to find her
Part Five
The Singer
Demodokos:
"Hear his story
Hearken well now
For this hero
Hath angered the gods!"
All sing:
To his torment
There before him
Sang the singer
A song of his doom
Odysseus:
Say no more
Say no more
All sing:
No one sees that
Tears are flowing
No one knows that
Here sits the one
Sing on singer
Sing unceasing
You have brought low
The hero of the ages
Odysseus:
Say no more
Say no more
All sing:
Sing on singer
Sing unceasing
You have brought low
The hero of the ages
Part Six
The Dance
(Instrumental)
Part Seven
The Competition
(Instrumental)
Part Eight
Wounding One Hero
Demodokos and Choir:
The feasting complete
The songs have been sung
The games have been won
A champion crowned
Demodokos and Odysseus:
Once was a man, who by ruse of war
Gained access to the city of Troy and all its wealth
Now comes a man, who by craft of words
Hath broken down the gates of the hero's heart
There is but one, one hero who will conquer
From Heaven up above - God of glory and of love
Here is my gift, my ruse of war, my Trojan Horse
For to His glory I'll sing forever more.
King Alkinoos:
No! Stop this madness now!
Can't you see? He's broken down with sorrow
While you sing of heroes, of riddles and of gods
There remains one question
And I would have my answer now
What is your name?