Leonard Bernstein — VIII. Epistle: “The Word of the Lord”

[CELEBRANT] (speaking) Dear Brothers: This is the gospel I Preach; and in its service I have suffered Hardship like a criminal; yea, even unto Imprisonment; but there is no imprisoning The word of God … [A YOUNG MAN] (speaking) Dearly Beloved: Do not be surprised if the World hates you. We who love our brothers Have crossed over to life, but they who Do not love, abide in death. Everyone who Hates his brother is a murdеrer [ANOTHER YOUNG MAN] (speaking) Dear Mom and Dad. Nothing will makе me Change. Do not feel badly or Worry about me. Try to understand: I am now a Man [CELEBRANT] (sung) You can lock up the bold men Go and lock up your bold men and hold Men in tow You can stifle all adventure For a century or so Smother hope before it’s risen Watch it wizen like a gourd But you cannot imprison The Word of the Lord [CELEBRANT AND STREET Chorus] No, you cannot imprison The Word of the Lord [CELEBRANT] For the Word was at the birth of the Beginning It made the heavens and the earth and set Them spinning And for several million years It’s endured all our forums and fine ideas It’s been rough but it appears to be Winning! There are people who doubt it and shout It out loud Oh they bellow and they bluster ’til they Muster up a crowd They can fashion a rebuttal that’s as subtle As a sword But they’re never gonna scuttle the Word Of the Lord [CELEBRANT AND STREET Chorus] No, they’re never gonna scuttle the Word Of the Lord! [AN OLDER MAN] (speaking) Dear Brothers: I think that God has made Us apostles the most abject of mankind We hunger and thirst, we are naked, we Are roughly handled, and we have no fixed Abode. They curse us and we bless. They Persecute us and we suffer it. … They Treat us as the scum of the earth, the Dregs of humanity, to this very day [A YOUNG GIRL] (speaking) Dear Folks: Jim looked very well on my First visit. With his head cleanshaven, he Looked about nineteen years old. He says The prison food is very good. For the first Few days he is not allowed any books Except his Bible. When I hugged him he Smelled so good, a smell of plain clean Soap; he smelled like a child when you put Him to bed [CELEBRANT] (sung) All you big men of merit who ferret out Flaws You rely on our compliance with your Science and your laws Find a freedom to demolish while you Polish some award But you cannot abolish the Word of the Lord [CELEBRANT AND STREET Chorus] No, you cannot abolish the Word of the Lord [CELEBRANT] For the Word created mud and got it going It filled our empty brains with blood and Set it flowing And for thousands of regimes It’s endured all our follies and fancy schemes It’s been tough, and yet it seems to be Growing! O you people of power, your hour is now You may plan to rule forever, but you never Do somehow! So we wait in silent treason until reason is Restored And we wait for the season of the Word of The Lord We await the season of the Word of the Lord We wait, we wait for the Word of the Lord. …