EVERYMAN
a musical based on the medieval play
music and libretto by Douglas Post
Copyright © 2011 by Douglas Post.
All Rights Reserved.
All inquiries regarding performance rights should be addressed to
Ron Gwiazda,
Abrams Artists Agency,
275 Seventh Avenue, 26th Floor,
New York, NY 10001
646-461-9325
Characters
DEATH
EVERYMAN
FELLOWSHIP
KINDRED
WORLDLY GOODS
GOOD DEEDS
STRENGTH
BEAUTY
FIVE-WITS
DISCRETION
Musical Numbers
"Songs Of Everyman"
DEATH, GOOD DEEDS & CHORUS
"Like A Young God"
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
"Time To Take A Reckoning"
DEATH & EVERYMAN
"Pass Me By"
EVERYMAN & DEATH
"Fellowship's Song"
EVERYMAN & FELLOWSHIP
"Kindred's Song"
EVERYMAN & KINDRED
"Worldly Goods' Song"
EVERYMAN & WORLDLY GOODS
"All Together Now"
FELLOWSHIP, KINDRED & WORLDLY GOODS
"I Can Go It Alone"
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
"Everyman And Good Deeds"
GOOD DEEDS & EVERYMAN
"In My Day"
EVERYMAN
"Granted Treasures"
GOOD DEEDS & QUARTET
"Now Alive"
EVERYMAN, QUARTET & CHORUS
"Best To Hurry On Our Way"
DEATH & EVERYMAN
"What I Most Will Miss"
EVERYMAN, GOOD DEEDS & CHORUS
"Into This Grave"
QUARTET & EVERYMAN
"For Always"
EVERYMAN, DEATH & GOOD DEEDS
"We Are Not Alone"
GOOD DEEDS & CHORUS
1
"SONGS OF EVERYMAN"
(The character of DEATH addresses the audience in preparation for the
story they are about to hear.)
DEATH
Somewhere on the edge of morning,
Out where other days are forming,
There's a fable waiting to unfold.
Written down on ancient pages,
Passed along across the ages,
Thriving
And surviving,
It's arriving here now to be told.
It is as simple as a flash of lightning.
It is elusive and a little frightening.
It is the sound of a passing spirit.
It is inevitable that you hear it.
Once it has been rendered
Then you will understand
There are ties that bind
And winds that wind
And songs of Everyman.
(The other members of the COMPANY come forward to sing.)
GOOD DEEDS
Man is but a wondrous flower,
Pure and perfect for the hour,
Reaching out to touch the golden sun.
While he lives his days are many.
Soon enough he won't have any.
Wherefore
He must care for
What is there for him before it is done.
FELLOWSHIP
We are the voice of the teeming masses.
KINDRED & FELLOWSHIP
We are the upper and the lower classes.
WORLDLY GOODS, KINDRED & FELLOWSHIP
We are the children of every nation.
2
ALL
We are the keepers of our own salvation.
All men join in one thing,
Ever since time began,
Under any skies
We recognize
The plight of Everyman.
Death,
He is darkness and light,
He is quicker than sight,
He's been sent down onto the earth.
Death,
He will scour the land,
He will find Everyman,
And discover what he is worth.
DEATH
Our brief life is transitory,
That's the nature of our story,
That's the reason for our gathering.
Everyman, the timeless dancer,
Searching for the fated answer,
DEATH & CHORUS
Turning,
He is yearning,
He is learning what tomorrow will bring.
ALL
He is a spark in the human fire.
He is the shadow of our own desire.
He is the sum of a man's existence.
And he's about to go the final distance.
DEATH
Listen to his story
And take note of all you can,
For I know one day
You all will play
The part of Everyman.
I sing of Everyman.
3
ALL
The songs of Every Man.
"LIKE A YOUNG GOD"
(EVERYMAN appears and refers to the others on stage as he sings about
himself.)
EVERYMAN
Some men are buried in schemes.
Some men are chasing loose dreams.
Some men are users,
And some are abusers,
And some choose a life of extremes.
But not me,
Not me,
When I'm
Walking down the street
Like a young god.
Everyone I meet
Thinks I'm a young god.
Magic in my touch
Like a god, yes,
I am way too much.
Oh, yes, I'll wheel and deal and I'll endeavor.
Maybe I'll live forever.
Some men are standing in line.
Some men are lost in design.
Some are neurotic
And some are robotic
And some ought to simply resign.
But not me,
Not me,
When I'm
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
Walking down the street
EVERYMAN
Like a young god.
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
Everyone I meet
4
EVERYMAN
Sees I'm a young god.
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
Lightning in my hand
EVERYMAN
Like a god, yes,
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
Worlds at my command.
EVERYMAN
Oh, yes, I'll spin and win in any weather.
Maybe I'll live forever.
Look at me, I'm so invincible,
Not leaning on any principle.
Proud,
Loud,
Out of the crowd,
I take all that I'm allowed.
Cool,
Not cruel,
But nobody's fool,
I stand apart and I rule.
Rough,
Tough,
Never enough,
I'm the man I want to be,
A perfect personality who's
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
Walking down the street
Like a young god.
Everyone I meet
Knows I'm a young god.
Magic in my touch
Like a god, yes,
I am way too much.
EVERYMAN
Oh, yes, I'll wheel and deal and I'll endeavor.
I want to live forever,
5
EVERYMAN & CHORUS
Like
A god,
A young god.
"TIME TO TAKE A RECKONING"
(DEATH advances on EVERYMAN.)
DEATH
I hate to spoil everything.
But, Everyman, you must know the truth I bring.
Your days of running are through.
Your final judgment is due.
Your fate has come to down to you.
Oh-oh-oh,
Everyman, time to take a reckoning.
Oh, there is wonder in your eyes.
I can see I have caught you by surprise.
Don't bother sorting it out.
Don't look for reasons to doubt.
Don't try to shake it or shout.
Oh-oh-oh,
Everyman, just prepare for your demise.
EVERYMAN
Who are you standing there in my way?
What are these words of madness you say?
Is this a joke or some kind of ruse?
I've got to tell you, I'm not amused.
How can my judgment be here at hand?
I am still young.
I don't understand.
Death comes to all eventually.
Death comes to every man,
But not me!
Not here!
Not now!
DEATH
Oh, you can groan and you can grieve.
I suppose you could try for a reprieve.
Go hide your head low and cry.
Go shake a fist at the sky.
Shout out a desperate: "Why?"
6
But oh-oh,
Everyman, you would do best to believe.
"PASS ME BY"
(EVERYMAN responds.)
EVERYMAN
Oh, Death you come when I had you little in mind.
I'm not prepared.
I am not ready!
DEATH
That is the way I fall before all of mankind.
I must be certain, swift and steady.
EVERYMAN
Why me?
Can't you pass by me?
Do not deny me
What I ask for.
Pass me by.
DEATH
Everyman,
Do not demand
That which is not mine to give.
EVERYMAN
Look, if it's life you want, wouldn't another man's do?
Go claim a soul across the ocean.
DEATH
I am the sword that cuts through the middle of you,
But not the hand that makes the motion.
EVERYMAN
But why me?
Can't you pass by me?
Do not deny me,
Demon of darkness,
Pass me by.
DEATH
Everyman
In every land
7
Wants one more minute to live.
No!
EVERYMAN
Then tell me, please, if I'm to die
Can someone come along through my fiNal breath?
DEATH
Well, Everyman, that is quite an unusual request.
EVERYMAN
Someone to champion my cause
And walk with me into the jaws
Of death?
DEATH
Sure, Everyman, if another will have you, be my guest.
EVERYMAN
Why me?
Can't you pass by me?
Do not deny me,
God in heaven!
DEATH
Everyman, I shall return.
Be ready.
EVERYMAN
Pass me by.
"FELLOWSHIP'S SONG"
(EVERYMAN contemplates his fate as DEATH withdraws.)
EVERYMAN
Who can I turn to in this hour of darkness?
The damning touch of death has cut me to the bone.
I'm cold and frightened.
How will this night end?
I cannot bear to face this somber void alone.
There must be someone who would gladly defend me,
Someone who's shared the joy and suffering of my days,
8
Someone who'll guide me,
Stand there beside me,
Someone who'll shower me with praise...
Fellowship!
(FELLOWSHIP steps forward and goes to EVERYMAN.)
FELLOWSHIP
Hello, my little Everyman,
Great to see you again,
But you look kind of glum.
Yeah, so sad and depressed.
Well, well, well,
Tell you what my little Everyman,
What you need is a friend,
What you need is a chum,
And you know I'm your best.
Something's got you awful blue.
Fellowship is here for you.
What a friend you've got in me,
That's a certainTee-tee-tee-tee
Dee-dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
Aw...
Tee-tee-tee-tee
Dee-dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
Let me hear it now, pal o' mine,
Put it there on the line,
Tell me what do you need.
Tell me what can I do.
Aw, come on, you ol' son of a gun,
No matter what you have done,
You got help guaranteed,
Yes sir, I'll see you through.
Hey now, you and me, we go way back,
Bosom buddies, that's a fact.
What a friend I am to you,
None could be so
True-true-true-true
Do-do-do-do
9
Do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do.
Aw...
True-true-true-true
Do-do-do-do
Do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do.
Everyman, it hurts me so to see you in pain.
It's just like I'm su-su-suffering, too.
Now, I won't rest until your sorrows slip down the drain.
I would go the distance for you.
Tell you what, my little Everyman,
What you need is a plan
That'll make you feel good
And get you back on your feet.
Aw, come on, come on, Everyman,
You know if anyone can,
I can make things real good.
Hey now, let me repeat.
I'll be there through thick and thin,
Go to hell and back again.
What a friend you've got in me,
That's a certainTee-tee-tee-tee
Dee-dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
Aw...
Tee-tee-tee-tee
Dee-dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
EVERYMAN
Fellowship, the words you speak, they chase blues away.
Let me state the cause of my grief.
I must make a reckoning before God today.
That is my dilemma in brief.
FELLOWSHIP
What?
EVERYMAN
I need you to offer relief.
10
FELLOWSHIP
Oh.
So long, my buddy Everyman.
It's great to see you again,
But I sure got to run.
How I wish I could stay.
Hey, hey, hey,
Yes siree, my little Everyman,
What you need is a friend,
And I hope that you find one.
Now step out of my way.
EVERYMAN
You said friends for evermore.
FELLOWSHIP
That was just a metaphor.
EVERYMAN
You said hell and back today.
FELLOWSHIP
Round trip, buddy, not one way.
EVERYMAN
Please don't leave me.
FELLOWSHIP
Got to go.
EVERYMAN
You deceived me.
FELLOWSHIP
Don't you know.
You sure had a friend in me.
Good luck in eterniTee-ee-ee-ee-ee.
(FELLOWSHIP departs.)
"KINDRED'S SONG"
EVERYMAN
Who can I turn to now that nobody wants me?