Quartet / There’s a Man (Transition)

Lyrics

[ARCHIBALD, spoken] Last night I dreamed I walked through the maze to Lily's garden And saw Lily and Mary standing there Mary standing right there in Lily's garden I turned away, I couldn't watch them I was afraid [NEVILLE] Why won't he say what he wants? Why must he speak in dreams? Why can't he see what he wants? To disappear, it seems He should send this haunted girl far away Leave the house and lands to me [ARCHIBALD] I watched them walk around the garden She stood tall, grown strong and bold Then they turned and asked my pardon I couldn't speak, my heart grown cold [NEVILLE] Why can't he see what he wants? He wants the past undone Why can't he know what he wants? His losing battles won To have never loved her Never known how complete a loss can be If she could disappear, he'd start again And live like other men He could be happy then If she'd disappear, he could be free Cut off from pain and loss A bit like me [ROSE, spoken] You can't marry this Archibald He's a gloomy, miserable cripple Who hides himself away in that horrible house He can't believe you love him And neither can I [LILY, spoken] No one is asking for your approval, Rose [ROSE, spoken] Lily, think about your children Do you want your children to be crippled as well? [LILY] I will marry him! [NEVILLE, ROSE] I can arrange what he wants (Don't do this) He's left it all to me (Don't wed him) Now he can have what he wants (Don't bed him) Unfettered he will be (Don't do this) Set him free to wander (Set him free) [NEVILLE & ROSE] Through the world Let him go His lonely way [ARCHIBALD, LILY] Then I longed to join them Know the peace they feel (Now that I love him) Their journey done Then I woke once more without them (I will love for him) Knew I must wander on and on (Live just to love him) [ROSE, ARCHIBALD] I won't forgive you (I go) Won't see you live there (Life to find) Lily, I swear I'll never see you [NEVILLE] Just to disappear is to be free [LILY] Do what you will, then I'll never leave him! [NEVILLE] Cut off from pain [ROSE & ARCHIBALD] Cut off from pain [NEVILLE] Cut off from pain [ROSE, LILY & ARCHIBALD] Cut off from pain [NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD] I'll help him disappear and start again (Disappear) [ROSE, LILY] Now you must leave him (How can I leave him?) Yes, you must leave him (I'll never leave him) [NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD] And love like other men (Leave loss behind me) [ROSE, LILY] You must believe me (Nor e'er deceive him) [NEVILLE] He could be happy then [ROSE, LILY] Lily, promise (Rose, I promised) [NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD] Just to disappear is to be free (Live unseen) [ROSE, LILY] Now you must leave him (Never to leave him) You must believe me (No, I won't leave him) [NEVILLE, ARCHIBALD] Disappear (Disappear) [ROSE, LILY] Lily, think about the children (I will wed and bear him children) Lily, think about the children (He will love me, love the children) [ARCHIBALD, spoken] I shan't be gone long Perhaps just 'til the autumn [NEVILLE, spoken] And Mary? [ARCHIBALD, spoken] I'll write her a note from Paris Now, I'll go look in on Colin [NEVILLE, spoken] Just see you don't wake him [ARCHIBALD, spoken] In ten years have I ever awakened the boy? [ALICE & CLAIRE] There's a man whom no one sees There's a man who lives alone There's a heart that beats in silence for The life he's never known