64 Libretti

15Line Up

謙 Qiān ¦¦¦|¦¦

Line up at the river. Line up at the river.
Line up at the river ev’rybody.
Grab a drink ev’rybody. Wash your face,
but beware of the monster in the river
who holds others in a fantasty embrace.

Oh. Line up at the river. Line up at the river.
Line up at the river ev’rybody.
Grab a drink ev’rybody. Wash your face,
but resist the urge to kneel in those strange delusions;
sinking at the shoreline, nightmares turning real.

Oh. Close your eyes for be sure the monster will be peaking,
waiting on the surface to hold you in place.
Wanting to be seen but don’t you dare
this monster only needs your glance to keep you there.

Wanting to be seen,
But don’t you dare –
This monster
Only needs
One glance
To keep you there…

Oh. Line up at the river. Line up at the river.
Line up at the river ev’rybody.
Grab a drink ev’rybody. Wash your face.
Nobody is safe alone at the river,
so I’ll keep watch for the danger below.
I will be your anchor when the devil starts to show.

(He looks down at the river, sees his reflection on the surface, and without looking away, he kneels down to look closer. He cannot move. He is lost.)

Hello. Hello. Hello.

Libretto by Caroline Murphy