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andrew lloyd webber - the trial lyrics

(court no. 1 at the old bailey, where the trial of stephen ward is taking place

ward’s defence counsel, james burge, begins speaking to the jury.)

[burge]
ladies and gentlemen of the jury: was this life of ward’s led for fun, or profit? that is the key to this case: was he conducting a business? there’s a very, very wide gap between a man with an artistic temperament and obviously high s+xual proclivities leading a dissolute life, and saying he has committed these offenses. can you really imagine this man has been living on the earnings of prostitution? on a fair and impartial view, i will ask you to say that these charges have not been made out, and to find him not guilty

(he resumes his seat, to be replaced by the towering figure of the crown prosecutor, mervyn griffith+jones.)

[griffith+jones]
here’s a monster
of depravity
who went hunting
fresh and tender game

picked up two young
semi+prostitutes
promised them
a first+hand taste of fame

if so minded
one might well infer
profit was
his motive and his goal
when he first set foot in murray’s club
seeking victims that he could control
so+called “dr. ward” went to endless lengths
making sure keeler was succumbing to his influence
even went as far as visiting
her little people in staines
to reassure them

if so minded
one could well conclude
this is evil
in its purest shape
preying on the weak and vulnerable
once the trap closed, there was no escape

you have heard what the accused
made vickie barrett do
offering her to all his friends
hard to believe, but true

holding back the money that
she thought he would repay
clearly money from immoral earnings, you may say

[ward]
(unable to help himself)
no!
[judge]
this is not the first time you have interrupted, and i shall take action if you do it again!

[ward]
…i’m sorry, my lord. it’s a great strain

(griffith+jones’s eyes light up and he seizes his opportunity.)

[griffith+jones]
of course it’s a great strain for a guilty man to hear the truth at last

(he allows himself a small triumphant smirk.)

if so minded
one might well assume
this defendant
should not be set free
to resume
his filthy way of life
of seduction
and debauchery

[judge]
members of the jury…

(in a mild, neutral tone)
you have here in front of you
a man of many parts
a successful osteopath
and patron of the arts

a highly distinguished healer
a true artist, not a fake
these are very hard decisions
you are called to make

(suddenly, his tone changes: he turns to look at ward, his expression fierce, and delivers a ferocious, almost gloating attack)

yet he led a life of infamy!
and now he’s alone, as you can see!
quite abandoned
and left to his fate
by his many friends of high estate!

(ward is powerfully affected by this; he shades his eyes to try to hide his devastation. the lights fade on everyone in the court except ward, shattered. slowly, he rises to his feet.)

[chorus]
(offstage, while ward speaks)
you’ve never had it so good
you’ve never had it so often
go and do what you never could
a brand new brother and sisterhood
you’ve never had it so good

[ward]
…the judge was only halfway through his summing+up… but i could see it was all up with me. i realized that this case was not brought because of some undue interest in my s+x life: it was a political revenge trial… and i had quite enough

(as we move into the next scene)

there’s no other way to heaven
seems you have to die
i thought heaven could be found
this side of the sky

- andrew lloyd webber lyrics

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