Mephistopheles

(album: Beethoven's Last Night - 2000)

[MEPHISTOPHELES]

ALL OF YOUR LIFE NOW
YOU HAVE DENIED
THERE'D BE A TIME
WHEN YOU'D EVER DIE
STILL IT'S BEEN RUMORED THIS THING MUST BE

WHY IS IT THEN THAT YOU ACT SURPRISED
WHEN I APPEAR NOW TO BE YOUR GUIDE
WHY DO YOU HESITATE TO FOLLOW ME

SEE IT RISING
STARE AND WONDER
HEAR IT BECKON
YOU TO DANCE

FEEL IT HOLD YOU
TAKE YOU UNDER
I'M YOUR GOD OF SECOND CHANCE

AND NOW YOU CLAIM YOU ARE NOT PREPARED
SO MUCH TO DO YOU CAN NOT BE SPARED
STILL YOUR ENTREATIES DEATH WILL NOT HEAR

THE GRAVEYARD IS FILLED WITH IMPORTANT MEN
WHO COULD NOT BE SPARED BUT WERE IN THE END
AND SO I WHISPER NOW IN YOUR EAR

SEE IT RISING
STARE AND WONDER
HEAR IT BECKON
YOU TO DANCE

FEEL IT HOLD YOU
TAKE YOU UNDER
I'M YOUR GOD OF SECOND CHANCE

DOMINE
DOMINE
DOMINE
DOMINE
O DOMINE
O DOMINE
O DOMINE
O DOMINE

[The Devil then makes the composer an offer. If Beethoven will give him all his music, allowing Mephistopheles to wipe it from the memory of man, he will return his soul to him. Beethoven is overwhelmed by the situation. Fearing an eternity of damnation and torment he is desperate to reclaim his soul, but the thought of losing his music, his life's work, causes him to hesitate.]

[Mephistopheles, sensing his confusion, offers to leave for one hour before returning for Beethoven's answer. As the devil is turning to go, Beethoven notices that the hands of the clock are now turning faster than is normal. When he points this out to Mephistopheles, the devil replies that the maestro should consider it a final favor because where Beethoven is going, they never turn at all.]

[As the spirits cautiously re-emerge from the corners of the room, Beethoven agonizes over his decision.]