HURDY GURDY MAN

Here outside the town
My hurdy-gurdy sings
Dying fingers turning music
From its strings

Barefoot on the ice
I stagger to and fro
See my little plate is
Only filled with snow

See my little plate is
Only filled with snow

No one wants to hear me
No one looks my way
Dogs are snarling at me
Let them have their say

Let the world keep turning
As it always will
Can you hear the hurdy-gurdy turning still?
Can you hear the hurdy-gurdy turning still?

Stranger in the wasteland
Won’t you stay with me
Deep beyond the ice
Our songs for company

 

WOYZECK

I saw three suns set the sky ablaze
Who knows how long that they held my gaze
And they, it seemed, looked down to see
As if too moved to move on from me

My suns, you never can be my own
Shine on for those who aren’t alone
For I had three before today
I saw the best two fade away

I wish the third would lose its light
For now my home is the endless night

 

DOCTOR

Still a crow is overhead
Since the journey set us free
Though we’ve left the town behind
Still it flies above me

Tell me, foul and evil bird
Won’t you ever leave me?
Will you tear my rotting flesh
Is that how you’ll grieve me?

Still there is not far to go
One strong branch my only slave
Crow, I ask you when I’ve died
Be there at my grave side
Crow, I ask you when I’ve died
Be there at my grave side

 

MARIE

My path has found a graveyard
A place where I could stay
I’ll sleep between the grave stones
And shelter from the day

The wreaths that lie around me
Might be the signs that call
The traveller from the roadside
The inn belongs to all

This house is full of people
No room it seems for me
I’m weak enough to die here
For fatal wounds are free

And who will show some mercy?
An inn that has no room
So onward, fateful journey
And take me to my tomb
So onward, fateful journey
And take me to my tomb

 

MARIE

By the fountain, near the gateway
There stands a linden tree
Such dreams within its shadows
As if it dreams for me

WOYZECK

Its bark has been my canvas
I’ve carved my love so deep
In joy and pain it lures me
To secrets that we must keep

MARIE

Tonight I had to pass it
The moon too old to rise
But even in the darkness I had to close my eyes

WOYZECK

I heard its branches rustle
And calling to the blind:
“Come here, to me, my brother
There’s peace for you to find”

WOYZECK AND MARIE

The freezing wind was carving
Fresh cuts across my face
My way was lost in darkness
My steps too dark to trace
The hours have passed since leaving
My linden tree behind

And still I hear the rustling:
There was peace for you to find
There was peace for you to find