[Orchestral Prelude] [Low male choir] Rise. The Court of Love Is now in session. [Massive orchestral hit] [Verse 1, baritone] Your Honour I confess I knew exactly what I did The first time that I looked at her And stayed a little longer than I should I confess I wanted her attention I confess I wanted more And when she finally let me in I forgot what caution was for [Choir, whispered] Confess... Confess... [Pre-Chorus] Ask me if I loved her Yes. Ask me if I knew the cost Yes. Ask me if I’d do it all again [Silence] Yes. [Chorus, full orchestra and choir] I PLEAD GUILTY! Before the Judge of Love Guilty of wanting What I could never get enough of Guilty of dreaming Guilty of need Guilty of every time I begged her not to leave Read every charge I won’t deny a word Before the Judge of Love Let my confession be heard [Operatic Interlude] [Female soprano] And what of the heart You promised to protect? [Male baritone] I broke it. [Choir] Guilty. [Verse 2] I confess to jealousy To nights I wanted all her time To hearing something innocent And twisting it inside my mind I confess I hurt her When being right mattered more I confess I said, “I’m fine” While waiting for her To ask once more I kept count of every wound Except the ones that came from me So if this court demands the truth Then let the truth convict me [Choir rising] Confess! Confess! CONFESS! [Chorus] I PLEAD GUILTY! Before the Judge of Love Guilty of wanting What I could never get enough of Guilty of dreaming Guilty of need Guilty of every time I begged her not to leave Read every charge I won’t deny a word Before the Judge of Love Let my confession be heard [Bridge, courtroom dialogue over low strings] [Judge, operatic bass] Do you regret loving her? [Baritone] No. [Judge] Do you regret the pain? [Baritone] Every day. [Judge] And if this court returned her heart Into your hands tonight... What would you do differently? [Long silence] [Baritone, quietly] Listen. [Orchestra begins rising] More than I speak. Trust More than I fear. And love her Without trying to own What she gives freely. [Choir] Then hear the judgment. [Orchestra stops] [Judge] Guilty. [Massive orchestral strike] [Final Chorus, baritone + soprano + full choir] GUILTY! Before the Judge of Love! No alibi No innocence No heaven high enough I loved her badly I loved her well I loved her more than I could tell And if loving her again Is the sentence that I earn Then sentence me forever I WILL NEVER ASK TO LEARN! [Choir] GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY OF LOVE! [Finale, full opera] [Baritone] Your Honour... I have one final confession. [Silence] I still love her. [Choir, softly] Guilty.
