Author: Benjamin

July End Updates

Rebellious girls and Esther’s song that wins Hegai’s favour and earns her likability

HEGAI:
Welcome all women to Shushan
Now I will do the best I can
To take good care of you in your new home
and keep you safe and sound; you’re not alone!

GIRL #1:
I have been snatched away
from my home and there’s nothing I could do or say
You took away my life
my hopes and dreams are lost in shadow

GIRL #2:
I had so many plans
burnt up in flames
and you are to blame!

If I could, I would thrust
a sword in your side
for things you denied!

REBELLIOUS GIRLS:
We’re denied we’re denied we’re denied

(something something something – I’ll have to refer back to the video)

ESTHER:
Some things just happen
And don’t know when or why
Maybe it’s circumstance
for us to say goodbye

(some deep lyrics concerning chance and circumstance and time and happenstance which I don’t know how I am going to write later because it’s so deep but I’m going to try; maybe I’ll read some Proverbs or Ecclesiastes)

Still working on recording the demo for “Sage Advice”

Finally made some progress on the melody of the “House of Women” song

LYRICS:

Girl’s, you have so much to learn
And a long way to go
The ways of purification
I will show

Oil of myrrh
lavishly embrace
Cleanse all the hurt
gently from skin and face

Rejuvenating, immersed in baths of myrrh
Exfoliating, for beauty endure

Esther Chapter 2 – Hegai’s intro

HEGAI:
Welcome all women to Shushan
Now I will do the best I can
To take good care of you in your new home
and keep you safe and sound; you’re not alone!

GIRL #1:
I have been snatched away
from my home and there’s nothing I could do or say
You took away my life
my hopes and dreams are lost in shadow

New Mordecai Lyrics in the Middle of “Fast for Me”?

MORDECAI:
I have come with news to pull us through
Esther says, for 3 days, this to do
Maybe we have sinned and gone astray
What to do, but kneel ourselves and pray

Fast for her
Together with her
And then will she go unto the king
Pray that he
attends to her plea
to save us from our suffering

JEW #1:
Perhaps we strayed
And judgement’s made

JEW #2:
And it’s our fate
to compensate

JEW #3:
for all the wrong things we could have said or done

MORDECAI:
So let’s fast! I’ve a feeling she’s the one

JEWS:
Let us get in our place
Surrender everything, fall on our face
No other thing is due
Than afflict our souls with rue

The first words Mordecai will sing

Day after day
Turn after turn
Oh my darling Esther
when will you return?

Night after night
Week after week
Will it soon be bright
or will it be bleak

[instrumental]

Day after day
What shall I do
Hope she didn’t tell them
that she is a Jew

Night after night
I lay in bed
Where are all the good times
They seem to have fled

And that was the result from today’s live songwriting session! Looking forward to what we’ll write next!

Lyrics for 2nd musical number finalized!

“The Sages’ Advice” – How’s this title? Any other suggestions?
Esther 1:12-21

KING KHASHAYAR:
Why do I feel such a pain inside?
Feel like a part of my soul just died!
My anger rages!
My clever sages…

What does the law say about her deed?
Should things be done or shall I concede?
She dares oppose me!
Alas, oh woe is me…

My most important men
Need you to show me the way…
Karshna, Shetar, Admata,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsna,
Memukhan, what’d you say?

MEMUCAN:
This is a deed not to be dismissed!
Now every wife will fight and resist
Destroying order
Within your borders!

Women are going to say, “Oh my
If the queen did that, then so can I!
Nobody owns me!
I can dethrone thee.”

And every noblewoman in Shushan
Will think they can demand from every man
And argue night and day
And not heed anything your officials say
Chaos will brood throughout the land
Affliction heavy as sand

ALL SEVEN SAGES:
This is a deed not to be dismissed!
Now every wife will fight and resist
We must have order
Within your borders!

Women are going to say, “Oh my
If the queen did that, then so can I!
Nobody owns me!
I can dethrone thee.”

The so-called Queen Vashti
has not only disgraced Your Majesty
but also all the nobles of Shushan
and all the peoples in all the 127 lands…

SAGES INTERRUPT EACH OTHER:
including… the army, the ministers, the servants, the officials, the eunuchs, and your friends

MEMUCAN: ENOUGH!
If my king pleases, then let’s proceed
Writing a new law to be decreed
An ultimatum
To warn all madams

Vashti to no longer be our queen
Banished for life from the royal scene
She shall not enter
Left, right or center!

When your majesty makes the decree
And is announced throughout the high and low / length and breadth of the land
Then each wife will certainly see
That she needs to to honour her man

ALL SEVEN SAGES:
So do away with “queen” Vashti
and find a better wife than she!
And let another take her royal stance
and ever prosper in your regal glance
OR
And let another seek your regal glance
May you bestow on her the royal stance

Someone better than she
Someone sweet with humility
Someone people will see and say, she’s a graceful delight!

Someone kind in her words
Someone gentle just like a bird
Someone that you will love above any other in sight.

KING KHASHAYAR:
This is a really good idea
It’s time that Vashti disappears

(Yes, we all agree!)

Decree this new law from Shushan
In every language of the land

(Yes, immediately!)

ALL SEVEN SAGES:
So let this law be set in stone,
Vasthi is banished from the throne!
And let the man be head of family
so every home will fear authority

[musical interlude]

Finished the last bit of the demo harmonies for the opening number “Feast of Persia”!

Had a good and quick live recording session today (the #2 one), and here’s the result! Can’t wait to mix everything a little better and share with you the updated mix of the whole opening number, but for now, here’s a sneak peak of the finale!

Finishing up “Feast of Persia” / “Fast for Me” Before & After

[Sorry, the link is broken. When I have time, I will fix this!]

And by the way, below is a new before-and-after of “Fast for Me”!