[distant male choir] **Gaudete... Gaudete...** --- [low male vocal] They told us watch the eastern sky. They told us something comes tonight. So light the candles. Lock the door. We've waited centuries for this. --- [choir] **Gaudete... Gaudete...** --- [lead, quietly] Do you feel it? The earth beneath us breathing. --- [refrain] **Gaudete, gaudete...** Rejoice. The longest night has given birth. **Gaudete, gaudete...** Rejoice. Something beautiful has entered earth. --- [low vocal] No cradle. No mother. No child beneath the star. Only footprints in the snow... coming toward us from the dark. --- [choir] **Gaudete...** [lead] Closer. [choir] **Gaudete...** [lead] Closer. [choir] **Gaudete...** [whisper] Don't extinguish the candles. --- [heavy section] WE ASKED FOR A SIGN. THE SKY TURNED BLACK. WE ASKED FOR A KING. **SOMETHING ANSWERED BACK.** --- [instruments drop] [lead, softly] And still... you kneel. --- [choir, growing] **Gaudete... Gaudete... Gaudete in tenebris...** --- [lead] Rejoice, my faithful. The waiting is over. You wanted a miracle. [whisper] Open your eyes. --- [final refrain] **GAUDETE, GAUDETE—** The ancient night has given birth. **GAUDETE, GAUDETE—** Let every voice beneath the earth— **REJOICE.** --- [choir continues alone] **Gaudete... Gaudete...** --- [close whispered vocal] Don't look at the star. Look behind you. --- [choir, very distant] **Gaudete...**
