Delay No Longer / The Shaking Throne

Lyrics [Intro — two pools of light: Daniel at his window, Belshazzar alone in his hall] (young adult male high tenor voice) Adonai... seventy years... (mature adult male base voice) They whisper... they whisper... [Verse 1 — alternating, each in his own world] (young adult male high tenor voice) By candlelight I count the years, the seventy nearly gone I open my window toward the city and pray the exile's song (mature adult male base voice) They whisper at the border, the horsemen at the gate My captains turn their eyes from me and leave me to my fate [Pre-Chorus — building, still apart] (young adult male high tenor voice) So I fall to my knees and I cry— (mature adult male base voice) So I pour another cup, and I— [Chorus — the two cries layered against each other] (young adult male high tenor voice) Adonai, hear! Adonai, forgive! For Your own sake, delay no longer — bring us home! (Hashiveinu!) (mature adult male base voice) I am the light, I am the master of the sun No prayer of theirs can shake this throne [Verse 2 — alternating] (young adult male high tenor voice) We bring no righteousness, only Your mercy's name You who scattered us in wrath can gather us again (mature adult male base voice) Bring me the gold the Hebrews adore, the cups from their temple floor If their God is so great, let Him stop me — I fear Him no more [Bridge — the irony peaks; they begin to overlap] (young adult male high tenor voice) While Babylon is feasting, while the golden goblets ring I'm on my knees at midnight to the Ancient, Holy King (Kadosh... Kadosh...) (mature adult male base voice) Play the music louder, keep the darkness far from me I am the son of an empire — the dark does not win tonight (both, overlapping) (tenor) Delay no longer— (baritone) Nothing can shake this throne— (tenor) Hashiveinu— (baritone) Nothing— [Final — both at once, the faith line soaring, the fear line cracking] (young adult male high tenor voice, soaring) Delay no longer — Hashiveinu — bring us home! (mature adult male base voice, cracking under it) Nothing's gonna shake this throne... nothing... [Outro — unresolved, suspended, pouring into the feast] (young adult male high tenor voice) (Hashiveinu...) (mature adult male base voice) (nothing... nothing...)