The Death of Saul

The Death of Saul is the seventeenth song of the first act of the musical, Alan Menken & Tim Rice's King David and the tenth song of the first act of the cast album.

Lyrics
Saul: The terrors of the field The horrors of the battle...

My crime is unexplained So cannot be defended The shepherd and the Philistines Close in...

I may be cut down In the field of battle Be exterminated by the Philistine But the cause of death Will not be the heathen Will not be some man whose sword dispatches mine David is the one! David, my assassin David planned disposal of me long ago He alone the cause Of my degradation Whether there or not to deal the final blow Why has the Lord deserted me? Samuel talk to me, Samuel talk to me, Samuel talk to me...

Ghost of Samuel: What can you want of me? You from whom the Lord has departed? He has taken the kingdom from your hand and given it to David Because you did not obey the word of the Lord He will deliver Israel to its enemies And tomorrow you and your sons will die On the fields of Gilboa

Saul: Now I understand Everything that's happened Every gruesome prophecy has come to pass All, that is, but one Yet to be delivered, I have still to sink into the vile morass All my sons are dead Jonathan, you failed me Couldn't stay alive to help your father die Jonathan, you fool Put your faith in David Trusted the seducer--the deceiver--why?

The dogs are on the run Their venom ever nearer And every moment clearer That their will be done What kind of crime provokes Eternal persecution? What kind of God would kill a man So easy to destroy? I fall upon my sword But that is no solution The enemy within Still loves the shepherd boy.