1. Epica (instrumental)

2. Two souls we are

Narrator:
Ye, believers, come and gather
words forbidden, put aside
I’ll present you
truth long hidden
miracle of inner light

Sticks and stones and minds’ opression
power, glory, none is right
hear me out,
share my passion
flame divine will shine on bright

Choir:
Two souls we are
yet one of kind
travelled so far
for truth to find
in peace of mind

Narrator:
Ye, believers, quit tradition
dare to challenge Gospels’ flows
dare to meet with
inner vision
given by our God who knows

Brick by brick your temple rises
line by line your Good Book grows
work your talents
- Gods surprises -
follow inner light that shows

Choir:
Two souls we are
yet one of kind
travelled so far
for truth to find
in peace of mind


3. Epica (instrumental)

II: Babylonian spell reversed
music: Gallo / lyrics: Van der Linden / arranged by 5bridgeS

1. Chamsim (instrumental)

2. Lillith

Narrator:
Nubian desert
circus’ glance

Comment:
Tricks and comedy!

Narrator:
Music strange as
future’s chance

Comment:
Daily life to flee!

Narrator:
Greedy Jubal
stands amazed
simply gazed

Comment:
So impulsive

Jubal:
Got to have this circus
(I) long for new
horizons

Narrator:
Lillith - daughter -
followed him

Comment:
Fate was haunting them

Narrator:
Dying livestock
future grim

Comment:
Famish threatened them

Narrator:
Lillith, monkey’s
faithful friend
named him Adrian

Comment:
Loving, caring

Lillith:
With this name
you’ll live for fortune
and
eternal life so soon to come

Narrator:
Lillith! She sadly died
Adrian went
- such bitter tears he cried -
taking life in wishful hands

3. Glimmering Horizons (instrumental)

4. The hermit

Narrator:
Hermit in his gutter lies
bitterly whispers last goodbye
tired of life he strives to die
cries out loud: ‘So why should I
fail along in heavens’ eye?
life is but a gruesome lie!’

And he wept
and he mourned
as he cried
for
death to come

Hermit:
Let it end
had enough
let it end
right here and now!

5. Struggle for Life? (instrumental)

6. Adrian

Narrator:
Adrian
feeded this poor soul

Comment:
Got rewarded, so

Narrator:
(A) thousand tongues
(he) controlled them all

Comment:
Ancient curse reversed

Narrator:
Side by side
they travelled on
from spring to fall

Comment:
Glorious ending

Narrator:
Down he fell
alas! a happy-ending

7. Nothing is sacred (instrumental)

8. Adrian

Adrian:
Here I go
’ have to go
to whatever may be!

III. On Calpe’s rock
music: Gallo / lyrics: Van der Linden / arranged by 5bridgeS

1. The monkey’s dance (instrumental)

2. Tell me
Veleda:
Tell me what it’s going to be
tell me where my fate is meant to lead me
tell me why I chose to flee
how my faith in endless love has failed me
though…

Adrian:
Tell me this is meant to be
tell me why you mourn, so sad and lonely
- as it seems to me
you’re the only...

Veleda:
Tell me, is this but a key
could you be my friend? A glimpse of pleasure?
Is it right
how could it be
that our days of sadness are at leisure?

Adrian:
Yes, we’ll be together
come and join me now
nothing seems to matter
(I’ll) follow you somehow

Both:
Now we’re joined, together
we’ll survive somehow
in sun and stormy weather
(I’ll) follow you somehow

Adrian:
Lady dear,
to me it’s clear
our prospect is
at hand

3. The monkey’s dance (instrumental)

4. Friends’ vow

Both:
My companion, we’ll see weather
time and fate will join together
my companion, worse and better
love and faith will join together

Adrian:
Board this ship, we’ll be together

Both:
love and fate for worse and better

5. Down they went (instrumental)

6. Destiny?

Both:
Could this be our destiny?



IV. The curse of Eternity
music: d’Araceno/ lyrics: Van der Linden / arranged by 5bridgeS

1. News from Rome

Marcus:
There’s news from Rome
could you believe it?
news from Rome
Claudius poisoned
news from Rome
empress will rule us
news from Rome
nothing can stop her
news from Rome
blood and destruction
news from Rome
(my) father imprisoned
news from Rome
better be careful

THREAT ALL AROUND US!

2. Don’t be afraid

Veleda:
Don’t be afraid
travel on
fear must wait
noble son
it’s my fate:
love has won
in your shade
I’ll walk on!

3. Crruydalllybrmbrm

Narrator:
Ancient ship
- almost wrecked -
torn its sails
and cursed its deck

Desperate they
must have been

Weirdest captain
ever seen

Veleda:
Skipper, please tell us your name

Captain:
(they) Call me Crruy dall ly brm brm

4. Adventure calls (instrumental)

5. Aboard they went

Narrator:
Aboard they went
approached this tent
strange man hides inside
apart from light
a curse to fight
by Julius Caesar sent

6. Atlantic waves (instrumental)

7. Strange ways

Martialis:
Strange are my ways - chained I am - in eternity
sit by my side - and I’ll tell - you my story –
immortal I am - so are those - who sail with me –
so plenty of time - it’s no joke! – I’m bad company...

Marcus:
Dreadful this is - all my striving in jeopardy
fruitless the vir - tue and fame - of my family

Veleda:
Please, don’t despair – ‘cause there’s a plan - know there must be –

Adrian:
I’ll play my best tricks - on this curse – Have to wait - and see

Just
show some trust
in me

8. Northern sun (instrumental)

V. Martialis’ reveries
music: Gallo & Thoolen


VI. Tricks and treason
music: Gallo & Roelofsen / lyrics: Van der Linden / arranged by 5bridgeS

1. Introduction

Narrator:
Aboard the ship
tricks and treasons reign
but
fate has no remote control
and
shows itself
in strange encounters...

2. In Lovernius’ quarter

Lovernius:
Why does your face look so familiar
to a man I know?
in your dreams there is a brother
Secret yet unshown?

Marcus:
What do you mean? I have no brother
let us talk, man to man
I have my fate, why should you bother?

Lovernius:
Tell me all you can!

3. Marcus’ persistence (instrumental)

4. Lovernius’ rage

Lovernius: I never forget a face
but in your special case
I’ll be glad
to make an exception

You’re but a waste of space
Romans are a disgrace
I’m so mad!
but my interception

will come in time for mistress dear
it won’t be long and she will hear
(of) tricks and treason, loud and clear
so clear!

Into slavery bound
victories’ chant will sound
finallly fox deteats the
hounds!

5. Lovernius’ rehearsal (instrumental)

6. Albion!

Lovernius:
Soon I will dwell in (my)
beloved Albion
(I’ll) take Martialis, it’s
all in a song

Adrian:
Take that old fool with you,
rush to your queen
linger in chords all your
true eyes have seen

Veleda:
Blessed are your footsteps
fair is your goal

Adrian:
Fair as my hermit
lost in his hole!

Lovernius:
Music is mindless but
bitter (are) my words
I’ll sing of freedom
although freedom hurts...

Martialis:
We’ll sing of the Allmighty
a glorious chant, for finally
I’ll meet my death in
liberty!

Lovernius:
We’ll sing to God allmighty
a token for tribal liberty
we’ll put an end to
slavery!

I never forget a face
and so I rest my case
for you
are no exception

Adrian:
Curse is overwon
finally overwon

Marcus:
Where are they going to?
what did I do to you

brother
my brother
dear!

Brother
my brother
Dear

brother!

8. Tumbling thoughts (instrumental)

VII. Lovernius’ song
music: Gallo


VIII. Batavian Revolt
music: Gallo & Roelofsen / lyrics: Van der Linden / arranged by 5bridgeS

1. Uprisal (instrumental)

2. Oakwoods’ sacred shade

Narrator:
In the oakwoods’ sacred shade
warriors swear their solemn oath
to rise

Nothing can stop them in their raid
legions almighty
taken by surprise

Taxes & tributes are at stake
civilization - what a fake! -
asks for more than they can take
finally proud men do awake

In the oakwoods’ sacred shade
vows of freedom bravely
are obtained

3. Marauding

Narrator:
Armies could not stop them
they were ruthless in revenge
they laid siege to Roman fortress,
took it in the end

Its commander, brave and noble
- Munius by name -
sent to priestess who predicted
victory by fame

4. A nice surprise

Veleda:
Sent to me?
a nice surprise!
What am I to do?
tell me where you come from
tell me where you come from
tell me where you come from
and
who the hell are you?

5. The wanderer (instrumental)

6. The priestess

Narrator:
So, there he was
captured by barbarians
lost in the dusky woods
of no man’s land

Priestess who awaited him
- revolting chieftains’ ally -
beautiful she was
though sad she looked

Goddess,
fierce in gesture
opened his heart!

7. Puzzled (instrumental)

8. Munius is my name

Munius:
Munius is my name, and brave I am
I joined the army and survived
no single mission I have failed, although
of my dignity deprived

My father is a country nobleman
- as my career was meant to be -
on secret duty, down in Brittany
I met my fiercest enemy

Goddess knows: the closest friends we were
but then, misfortune showed at once
he was captured by our foes who tortured him
I ran and took my chance

Faithfully I returned to rescue him
his soul was broken, body wrecked
he lost his eye and put the blame on me
such bitter end of righteous act!

9. Haunted by memories (instrumental)

10. The burden of years

Munius:
How cruel this is!
cursed by the man
I truely miss!

Veleda:
Spare me your story, don’t play your tricks on me!
once had a lover just like you
same old story of a Roman nobleman
- I know misfortune too --

I’ll have to find a way to work this out
as stories mingle, life goes on
tell me now, what we’re supposed to do
for deeply I have cherished you...

11. Where does this lead us to?

Both:
Woe! woe!
what am I supposed to do?

Friend, foe!
where does this lead us to?

So, so
separate lives for me and you...

IX. Amazons & haven
music: Gallo / lyrics: van der Linden / arranged by 5bridgeS

1. Celtic forests (instrumental)

2. Annis’ prophet

Annis:
Annis’ prophet I have been
and native glory I have seen
I traveled far and learned a lot
met with the emperor, sun of gods

But no more than a fake he was
in greed of glorious days
long passed

Felt betrayed by goddess’ tricks
- for Rome was but a pile of bricks -
I took my way up to the north
well guided by an inner source

Dwelled in forest, far away
I finally found a place to stay

Banned daughters’
mother queen I was
until I met her: my love at last!
but on the run - for life
so fast...


3. On the run (instrumental)

4. Veleda’s haven

Veleda:
Haven ’s what I found in you
for you feel what I’m going through
Thomas’ visions took an end
- now know too well what he has meant -

’cause lovers who abandoned me
all have their share in destiny

5. Enchanting forest (instrumental)

6. Discords’ rhythm (instrumental)

7. Rise and shine!

Both:
Come - join me
’till the end of time
my future will not be theirs but mine!
my sweet caress, you just rise
and shine!

8. Obvious dreams (instrumental)

X. Sign on the wall
music: Gallo / lyrics: Van der Linden / arranged by 5bridgeS

1. Carpenters’ complaint

Thomas:
So, you want me to give up
everything I gained
stirred the poison in my cup
Well, I’m no bleeding saint!

Inconvenient is this plan
- don’t know where to go -
I’m no hero, just a man
with a common sense
(you know...)

Voices:
Thomas, beware
this won’t be easy
(I) need you out there
to spread my word

Friends I’ll gather
from far beyond
Good companions
shield and comfort!

Munius:
So, my master, here we are
- told you ’bout my dreams -
came from desert lands so far
but you’re not pleased, it seems

Like a beggar at each porch
I humbly make my plea:
be my rabbi, be my torch
for your servant I will be

Voices:
Thomas, take care
this won’t be easy
(I) need you out there
to spread My word

Munius I’ve sent:
so eager to learn
to tell your story!

2. Sign on the wall (instrumental)

3. Carpenters’ conclusion

Thomas:
So, you want me to give up
everything I gained
(I) fear the poison in my cup
but I’l be your bleeding saint!

Inconvenient is this plan
- don’t know where to go -
I’m no hero, just a man

You’re my brother
you should know

You don’t want me to give up...

 

And this is where the first episode of De handelingen van Thomas ends. What’s the purpose of our friends wanderings? What music will enchant their quest? Be prepared for the next episodes in which we’ll accompany Thomas, Munius and Adrian - amongst others - on their trip to lands beyond the eastern horizons.

To be continued