The Piyut of Master Golem (Remastered)

[The Prologue] [No singing] [No melody] [Recitative] [Silence] Shalom… [Silence] [Recitative] Harken ye well to this tale… [Silence] Of the days when the boot of the oppressor ground our people into dust… [Silence] There came among us one who bore our grief… [Silence] Fashioned of earth, yet burning with a living flame… [Silence] They called him Master Golem… [Silence] [Klezmer music] [Verse 1] Toda Raba, Master Golem, Thank you very much Master Golem, L'olam va'ed Master Golem, (Forever and ever Master Golem), עד היום שבו ניפגש שוב. Until the day we meet again Toda Raba Master Golem, אני רוצה לדעת סוד. I want to know your secret [Musical break — solo flute, mournful and searching] [Chorus] Ye wonder at my countenance secret secret, I keep a secret Be I puppet or man of Providence? secret secret, I keep a secret With cunning work by Eastern hands, I walk amongst these troubled lands. [Verse 2] I've a secret hid neath my wool close against my breast, My heart is flesh my blood runs hot my mind it finds not rest. If I stumble in my gait, pray, be thou not surprised — I am a man who walks in clay, in shadow well-disguised, A soul that God himself hath breathed, and dearly, dearly prized. [Klezmer break — fiddle and flute] [Verse 3] I am no conjured effigy, my soul doth run deep, I come to mend thy heavy griefs, thy safety to keep. I am no tzaddik, I am no king, forget tales that ye know, I am a man by fortune tossed where bitter tempests blow, A soul that walks among ye still, though all the world says no. [Bridge: The Village Celebration] [The tempo quickens; the strings skip in a minor key] [Choir sings] Toda Raba, Master Golem, תודה! (Toda!) תודה! (Toda!) Toda Raba, Master Golem, תודה! (Toda!) תודה! (Toda!) [Choir sings] Gramercy to thee, Master Golem, For the toil that none would dare, And gramercy to thee, Master Golem, For the breath of freedom's air. Thank thee, thank thee, thank thee, I proffer thanks to thee! [Klezmer break — full ensemble, wild and celebratory, dancers stamp their feet] [Verse 4] The truth is plain for me to see, I be more life than alchemy. The chomer hath wrought me verily, The clay canst not contain what will not sleep. A soul too fierce for death to keep. [Musical break — single drum, slow and ominous, the dance is over] [Final Chorus] The hour strikes to rend the veil (secret, secret, no more secrets!) To cast away this visor's mail (secret, secret, no more secrets!) Now all may look on me, Behold my true identity — [Stop] [Break] [Spoken ominously] I am Molcho! I am Molcho! I am Molcho of the Clay! [Outro] [Full ensemble surges — minor key, desperate and triumphant] I am Molcho of the Clay! גַּם כִּי תָּבֹא הָאֵש Though the fire comes, the fire comes נשמת מולכו חי לעולם — The soul of Molcho lives forever I am Molcho! [Stop] [Break] Molcho! [Stop] [Break] [Spoken word] Hadran Alach. We will return to you, and you shall return to us. [Dramatic musical sting]