Pray

Lyrics

[TI MOUNE (Spoken)] Help! Someone come quickly! A car has crashed! Hello? Can you hear me? [WOMAN] His skin is so pale, she thinks [TI MOUNE] Can you see me? [MAN] His eyes open for a moment [ALL WOMEN] Eyes from another world [STORYTELLERS] Gray as the sky [TI MOUNE] Oh gods, oh gods You saved my life for a reason And now, I think I know why! (The storytellers go offstage. All at once, a peasant aka Agwe appears, carrying a lantern. He is immediately followed by others.) [PEASANTS (varoius solos)] He roared down the road Like the devil himself Going too fast around the curves Sent us scrambling off the road Like chickens [ALL] He has what he deserves! PEASANTS (Solos) Papa Ge wants him And Papa Ge will have him The boy is dying before our eyes! Help him! Hide him! TONTON No, don't touch him! Better leave him where he lies Even a wealthy man Sometimes dies TI MOUNE Please! He needs help! TONTON If this boy dies in our hands The rich will send the police! TI MOUNE He needs care! MAMA And if he lives, oh how angry The god will be! TWO PEASANTS The only thing that will save The boy's life Is to send him back to his world! TI MOUNE The only thing that will save the boy's life is Me! Please, Tonton! TONTON I will find out where he comes from MAMA Julian! No! TONTON I will find who he is, and soon! But till I return You care for him, Ti Moune (Tonton Julian turns to leave. Mama Euralie clings to him and watches in horror.) STORYTELLER (ERZULIE) (Spoken) And, bidding his wife and daughter goodbye, Monsieur Julian set off down the road, toward the nine mountains. (A wolf howl is heard when the storyteller is speaking.) Off to a world, he knew nothing of. The world of the grands hommes (Grand-dome) STORYTELLER (ASAKA) (Spoken) The peasants carried the boy to the village and laid him on Ti Moune's mat PAPA GE (Spoken) And her long vigil began PEASANTS One day gone by And two days gone by PEASANTS (Solos) The boy has the will Of the devil himself Clinging to life by one small thread If it hadn't been for Julian's daughter ALL PEASANTS He'd certainly be dead PEASANTS Look how she bathes him And touches and protects him She binds his wounds And she rubs his chest ALL PEASANTS It's as if the girl's possessed! MAMA You need food You need sleep You just can't Go on without Any sleep TI MOUNE Mama, ssshh MAMA Have some tea Have a rest TI MOUNE His skin is hot He needs me here BOTH Can't you see How much this matters to me I know what's best MAMA, PEASANTS Now the sky is growing dim And the clouds are racing by And the gods are looking down At a boy they meant to die And a girl who placed herself In their way Pray! Pray! PEASANTS Three days gone by And four days gone by I fear for the girl and her mother As well Nothing but trouble looms ahead Monsieur Julian could be deep In danger ALL Arrested, lost or dead TONTON Oh, Asaka, Mother of the earth Guide the feet Of this poor peasant man Hear my prayer Which way there? And which way home? TI MOUNE I need herbs MAMA Your father Gone TI MOUNE Mama, herbs MAMA And you don't Care Oh, my god, what Has this boy Done to you? TI MOUNE Mama, ssshh He needs rest He needs care MAMA Your Tonton lost Because of you BOTH Can't you see That he's in terrible danger What must I do! MAMA, PEASANTS Now the sky is turning dark And the wind is turning chill And the gods are out for blood They've been cheated of their kill By a girl without the sense to obey Pray! Pray! (The peasants dance in a ritual dance, ultimately to ward off the evil with violent shouts and chants they're sure is coming. The sky darkens as the storm approaches.) MAMA Julian! Where is my Julian? Bring my Julian home! GUARD You want what? TONTON I've come so far and I need... GUARD Get back! TONTON I have some news for Monsieur... GUARD Get back! TONTON Monsieur Beauxhomme has a... GUARD Peasant pig! TONTON Please, I beg... GUARD You must be mad! TONTON I must see Monsieur... GUARD Monsieur Beauxhomme! TONTON I have come so far GUARD So far to die TONTON I have found his son! MAMA, PEASANTS Now the sky has turned to black And the wind is like a knife Pape Ge is coming back For the boy who clings to life And the girl will have the gods To repay MAMA, SOME PEASANTS Pray! PEASANTS Papa Ge, Don't MAMA, SOME PEASANTS Come around me Pray! PEASANTS Papa Ge, Don't Come around me MAMA, SOME PEASANTS Pray! PEASANTS Papa Ge, Don't Come around me MAMA, SOME PEASANTS Pray! PEASANTS Papa Ge, Don't Come around me MAMA, SOME PEASANTS Pray! PEASANTS Papa Ge, Don't Come around me Don't come Around me Don't come Around me ALL Pray!!! (The peasants run offstage, fighting against the high winds, as Andrea continues the story for the viewers and The Little Girl.) STORYTELLER (ANDREA) (Spoken) Some say it was the worst storm the gods had ever sent. The peasants prayed that they would live to see the morning. But what of Ti Moune? Some say she had gone with of course the sleep for so long, her mind wandered further into her dreams. That she heard the wind and rain but only the beating of heart for this pale, dying boy