Series 1, Episode 23: Theater of the Imagination 2

Podcasting — The evolution of the musical is upon us.

It’s time for new works. Scattershot Symphony will now evolve from the past, to the present and into the future. It’s inevitable. So here we are at the cutting edge of 21st century musicals – the musical podcast.

It’s Radio Re-Imagined … only better. 

Today we offer a PRELISTEN, to songs from a new musical written by Peter Link and Ragan Courtney. 

Searching For My Father

A Podcast Musical Of Biblical Proportions

This Episode’s musical is the story of a boy and his transforming relationship with God. It is told through a collection of short, free verse monologues, dialogues and lyrics (songs) that collectively narrate many of the popular stories of The Bible. 

Our Boy, a brilliant young pianist loses his father and mentor to cancer and consequently his faith as well.

So, God enlists the services of some of the most famous Bible characters of the past, gives them the ability to time travel from the past to the present and share their stories and wisdom with the boy in order to pull him out of his depression and help him regain his faith. 

Scattershot Symphony is presented by Watchfire Music watchfiremusic.com

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Transcript

Welcome to:
Scattershot Symphony
The Music of Peter Link
(That’s me.)
 
This week being the twenty-third episode of this podcast, I prefer to let the music do the talkin’.  However, if you need to know more about me, please visit Wikipedia.com – Peter Link.   
 
This episode is entitled
“Theater Of The Imagination - Part 2”
 Searching For My Father
A Podcast Musical Of Biblical Proportions
 Radio — Re-imagined!

This Episode’s musical is the story of a boy and his transforming relationship with God. It is told through a collection of short, free verse monologues, dialogues and lyrics or (songs) that collectively narrate many of the popular stories of The Bible.  
 
In our story, our boy, a savant, and a brilliant young pianist, has been taught by his father, a church organist. His father and mentor dies of cancer leaving the boy heartbroken and devastated, furious that God would have ever let this happen.  So, the Boy rejects the whole idea of God and isolates himself in his room from the rest of the world for several years. Making matters worse, his mother falls in love with another man and remarries. The boy, of course, deeply resents the man who tries to take his father’s place as the boy withdraws from the world even further.
So, God enlists the services of some of the most famous Bible characters of the past, gives them the ability to time travel from the past to the present and share their stories and wisdom with the boy in order to pull him out of his depression and help him regain his faith. Each visitation is another step to the boy’s recovery.

Today we’ll bring you a few of those visitations. The following are five examples in no particular order of the past transmogrifying into the present.

We’ll hear first from one of the world’s favorite villians. One – Judas Iscariot — appearing before our boy to tell his tale, to share his own light of understanding gathered from centuries past.
Judas Iscariot to The Boy
He Forgave Me

He Forgave Me
Performed by Peter Link
Music by Peter Link
Lyrics by Peter Link and Ragan Courtney

[Judas]
Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when I exposed him to his captors with a kiss, my lips cold as death with his dark knowing eyes looking straight into mine, I knew then that he knew I had betrayed him with that kiss. But that kiss was not the final act of betrayal – yes I know betrayal well. It was the rope.

[The Boy]
The rope?

[Judas]
I went out and hanged myself.

[The Boy]
You killed yourself? So you are dead?

[Judas]
So they say
So they say
But the fact is I was dead before I died
I knew the wrong I did
Yet could not help myself
For I was lost
I was lost
And I was swept up by the lure of the coins in my pocket
That somehow never were enough
Aah the coins in my pocket
Oh the jingle and the jangle of those coins in my pocket
That never were enough
Oh Lord, never were enough

So I betrayed him
First with a kiss
And then and even worse
I betrayed the man who had raised Laz'rus from the dead
Just days before

When all the world was watching and in awe of Him
Who proved to us all that life is eternal
I scoffed at Him
Him and his miracle
With my cowardly act of a kiss and a rope around my neck

But in my greed
I had forgotten
Just who it was I did betray

I had forgotten the great heart of the man

You know, if I had only waited a few days, I would have seen him hanging between two thieves. Then I would have seen the resurrection like the others. (he sighs) And all for the love of the coins in my pocket.

So he forgave me
He forgave me
Though I did betray him with a kiss
He forgave me
Just like this (he snaps his fingers)
In no time
In but a moment
He reached out with his hand
And pulled me from the depths of my abyss
He forgave me
He opened up his heart
And he forgave me

And his forgiveness was ... as gentle as a kiss.

And so you ask if I am dead? Einstein said that one cannot destroy energy. I tried, but, gratefully, did not succeed. So here I am with you. Poor me. Poor Judas. I didn't know what I was doing. You don't either, but all that hate and rage you are carrying will come to nothing but ruin. Find a better path.

Yes I was swept up by the lure of the coins in my pocket
That somehow never were enough
Aah the coins in my pocket
Oh the jingle and the jangle of those coins in my pocket
That never were enough
Oh Lord, never were enough
But he forgave me
Yes he forgave me
He forgave me

And if he forgave the likes of me, he will forgive you.



Of course the story of David and Goliath would be high on any list of helpmates. We all know that classic story. It’s gotta be one of the two or three best known stories from the Bible. But has anyone ever looked at it from Goliath’s point of view? We did. And it turned out to be a scene that showed a most necessary insight into the true, but hidden nature of the Boy.  We all know Goliath to be this huge and mighty warrior. But was he really as fearsome as purported to be? Perhaps he was just … tall … and weighted down with the armor and bravado bequeathed to him by others. Perhaps he was just this dumb, really tall clumsy kid, thrust upon the field of battle to impress and frighten the enemy with his preposterous presence.

So, in this scene, it is the Boy who both befriends and encourages the visitor in a switch of characters.

The Boy and Goliath
I Can Sing!

I Can Sing
Performed by Peter Link
Music by Peter Link
Lyrics by Peter Link and Ragan Courtney

[The Boy]
Weird ... well, aren’t you gonna sing a song. Everybody else does.

[Goliath]
Oh, my mama laughed at me an’ tol’ me I wuz a monotone.  So I don’t sing no songs.

[The Boy]
Oh no, monotones are great. If you can only sing one note, you can still sing. Try this one. Uh, let's see ...

I can sing this song real good.
Oh yeah!

[Goliath]
No, no ... I ... I...

[The Boy]
No go ahead. This'll be fun. I promise.

[Goliath]
No, no ...

[The Boy]
Aw c'mon, big guy ... be brave.

[Goliath]
Well OK, I'll try. Sing it again.

[The Boy]
I can sing this song real good.
Oh yeah!

[Goliath]
That's funny ...

[The Boy]
Yeah, now try it with me.

I can sing this song real good.
[Both]
Oh yeah!
I can sing this song real good.
Oh yeah!

[The Boy]
That's good! Ya' got it! See, you CAN carry a tune! Now don't stop no matter what! Keep goin'!

[Goliath and Boy]
I can sing this song real good.
Oh yeah!
I can sing this song real good.
Oh yeah!

[The Boy]
Good. Keep goin'!

I can sing this song real good.
Oh yeah!
I can sing this song real good.
Oh yeah!

The stories of women in the Bible certainly take a back seat to the overwhelming number of the stories of men. Probably because it was men who were responsible to pass the stories forward in time. Back in the day, as usual, the women mostly got the short end of the stick. But the good Lord certainly knew what he was doing when he sent two women, Ruth and Naomi, straight outta the chapter of Ruth to help our Boy get his head straight on the subject of feeling alone and left out. Ruth also provides us with one of the most beautiful pieces of prose/poetry in the entire Good Book. The feminine approach works like a charm as our Boy sits quietly and listens to their story that provides a turning point in our narrative.

Julia Wade as Ruth
Intreat Me Not

Intreat Me Not
Performed by Julia Wade
Music by Peter Link
Lyrics by Peter Link and Ragan Courtney

I'm not gonna let you travel all the way back to Judah alone. Though you believe the Lord God Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with you, I believe He will see us through. So I beg you...

Intreat me not to leave thee
Or to return from following after thee
No intreat me not to leave thee
For whither thou goest
I will go
Wherever thou lodgest
I will lodge
Thy people shall be my people
And thy God my God

Where thou diest will I die
And there will I be buried
And may the Lord do so to me and more
If aught but death doth part us.

So intreat me not to leave thee
Or to return from following after thee
No intreat me not to leave thee
For whither thou goest
I will go
Yes whither thou goest
I will go
So intreat me not to leave thee
Don’t ask me to leave you
Intreat me not
Intreat me not

King David … What a lyricist!  Right up there with Oscar Hammerstein, Alan Lerner, Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Steven Sondheim, an’ I could go on … The only difference between David the King and the aforementioned group is that their work has lasted for decades whereas David’s work has lasted for millennia. Through the years we mere mortals have lost the music to these lyrics composed upon  harp and psaltery, but his lyrics lived on, even making it through the Dark Ages remembered as Psalms.  The man had a way with words. His Psalm 139 provides us with another turning point in the life of our Boy who sits and listens to this Master Lyricist sing one of his greatest works. I am proud to have had the chance to collaborate with him, and bring music to his grand and glorious ideas.

King David
Psalm 139

Psalm 139
Performed by Peter Link
Music by Peter Link
Lyrics by Peter Link and Ragan Courtney

[David]
Thank God for my memories – that take me back to that boy, sitting on a hill in the morning sunlight ... Come pray with me.

[The Boy]
No, I ... I, no ...

[David]
Come pray with me, boy. Oh I love my harp, but oh God, I wish I had had a piano back then.  What I could have done ... with a piano.

How precious are your thoughts oh God
How great is the sum of them how grand
If I could count them all oh God
They are more in number than the sand

Whither shall I go from thy spirit
Or whither shall I flee from thy care
If I ascend up into heaven
You are there
You are there
And if I make my bed with the devil
Behold
You are there
In the halls of heaven
You are there
Watching over me

If I take the wings of the morning
And I dwell
In the uttermost parts of the sea
Even there your left hand shall lead me
And your right shall always hold to me
For you are there
You are there
On the wings of morning
You are there
Always holding me

If I say surely the darkness
Shall cover me
Even the night shall light my way
Yea the darkness cannot hide from thee
But with you the night shines as the day
And I will praise thee
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Yes I will praise thee
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made

You know, I stand before you a man — whose heart beats, whose mind thinks, whose hands ... move — who exists to no great credit of my own.  So there must be something beyond.

How precious are your thoughts oh God
How great is the sum of them how grand
If I could count them all oh God
They are more in number than the sand
They are more in number than the sand
They are more in number than the sand
They are more in number than the sand
They are more in number than the sand
They are more in number than the sand

Throughout the story, one of the strongest themes deals with the failed, but slowly mending relationship between the Boy and his mother.  The eleventh hour climax of that theme finds the Boy, at last, seeing the light, swallowing his pride, and begging forgiveness from his mom. This next song is the only response a mother could have in this crowning moment.

Jenny Burton as The Mother
There Is Nothing To Forgive

There Is Nothing To Forgive
Performed by Jenny Burton
Music by Peter Link
Lyrics by Peter Link and Ragan Courtney

So, neither you nor I can be faulted … because … we are human.  That's what's so hard about life I guess – being human, … but there's no fault …

I would forgive you
If there were something to forgive
I will bear no malice
When there is malice in the air

Because you are the child
The heavens gave to me
You are the blossom
I am the vine
And in my eyes
(Though I know I'm far too sympathetic)
You can do no wrong
You are my hope
You are my lifeline
You are my song

Yes oh my boy you're the joy of my life
You're the reason that I may bear all things
And believe all things,
I may hope all things and endure all things
You are my sustenance
You are my innocence
My life
So no there is nothing to forgive
There's nothing to forgive

I would forgive you
If I were conscious of a fault
Oh this wedge between us
I take it with a grain of salt

For you are my child
That, nothing can erase
You are the blossom
I am the vine
And in my eyes
(Though I know I'm far too tender-hearted)
You can do no wrong
You are my hope
You are my lifeline
You are my song

Yes oh my boy you're the joy of my life
You're the reason I could carry on
In the crush of sorrow
The worst of times and endure all things
You are my sustenance
You are my innocence
My life
So no there is nothing to forgive
There's nothing to forgive
Nothing to forgive

So there you have it.

Scattershot Symphony  - Episode 23.
Next? Episode 24. A sojourn into another world — an entirely different kind of episode. Entitled …
Havin’ A Talk With God
Then, we’ll continue with

Episode 25.
“Theater Of The Imagination - Part 3”
King Of Hearts – The Broadway Musical. We’ll take you back to the 60s when the movie, King Of Hearts ran for 6 years every Saturday night in Harvard Square during the Cold War. Then to the 70s when King Of Hearts, the musical, opened on Broadway after the end of the Viet Nam war  and finally to the last day of World War I when King Of Hearts took place. This whimsical anti-war story, sadly, seems to never lose its timeliness and power. Will we ever grow up. And end war foever, or will the last war be the end of us?

Also, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts … etc.
 
A grateful nod goes to both Julia Wade and Jenny Burton for their superb solo talent on song after song, and my writing partner, Ragan Courtney who is always at my side with a new and most delightful solution to the problems at hand.
Searching For My Father
A Musical of Biblical Proportions
 Book and Lyrics by Peter Link and Ragan Courtney
Music by Yours Truly

A very special thanks also to Stuart Barefoot, our Associate Producer for all your invaluable knowledge and good vibes.
And a posthumous thanks to Ludwig Van Beethoven for your opening 4 bars.
 
Julia
(over playout music)
This podcast is presented with loving care by the staff at Watchfire Music. If you liked what you heard, we got lots more where that came from. In the meantime, you can find the songs you just heard on watchfiremusic.com. There you can purchase the singles or albums and have access to all the lyrics. Also, there you will find all previous podcasts and future scheduling.
 
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