Stephen Schwartz
The Plagues
[RAMESES]
And once again you are the only one you see
Here is the real question, why did you do this to me?

[MOSES, spoken]
This isn’t about you, Rameses

[RAMESES, spoken]
Everything is about me! I am Pharaoh!
(sung)
Like Menkeperre Thutmose, Horemheb the Warrior, Menmaatre Seti
Did you think I would not be as strong?
Some weak link—now you see you are wrong!
You are wrong
You are—

[WOMAN, spoken]
It’s blood!

[MAN, spoken]
The river is turning to blood!

[ENSEMBLE, sung]
Blood
Blood
The Nile has turned to blood
[Rameses knocks on the door of the High Priest.]

[RAMESES, spoken]
High Priest, what is the meaning of this?

[HIGH PRIEST HOTEP, spoken]
I can assure you our secret arts can do the same. Observe, by the power of Ra, turn this water to blood

[NEFERTARI, spoken]
You see? It was a mere trick

[HOTEP]
Whatever this imposter does, we can match it–and more!

[HOTEP & ENSEMBLE 1, (ENSEMBLE 2, spoken)]
By the power of Mut, Nut, Khnum, Ptah
Nephthys, Nekhmet, Sobek, Sekhmet
Anubis, Anoukis, Reshpu, Wadjet
Sokar, Serket, Seshmu, Meshket
(Thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord)
Hemsut, Tefnut, Heket, Mafdet, Ra!
(Thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord)

(Thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord)
(Thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord, thus saith the Lord)
(sung)
I send a pestilence and plague
Into your house, into your bed
Into your streets, into your streams
Into your drink, into your bread
Upon your cattle, on your sheep
Upon your oxen in your field
Into your dreams, into your sleep
Until you break, until you yield
I send the swarm, I send the horde
Thus saith the Lord

[MOSES, sung]
No power on Earth
Can match this might

[ENSEMBLE]
I will send thunder from the sky
I will send fire raining down

[MOSES]
No power on Earth
Can stand against such force

[ENSEMBLE]
I will send hail of burning ice
On every field, on every town
[MOSES]
Ramses, you betrayed our bargain
It's you who chose this course

[ENSEMBLE]
I will send locusts on the wind
Such as the world has never seen
On every stalk, on every leaf
Until there's nothing left of green
I send my scourge, I send my sword
Thus saith the Lord

[QUEEN TUYA, spoken]
Moses, you came

[MOSES, spoken]
Of course, I will come if my mother summons me

[QUEEN TUYA]
Promise me you will make peace with your brother. Promise me

(sung)
I gave you a home, my son
Not just me, so many
Our love for you was strong
And now you've come home
But to those who loved you
You do us all such wrong
And it breaks my heart to ask you
Did you hate us all along?

[ENSEMBLE]
I send the punishment of plagues
I send it down upon your head
Into your streets, into your streams
Into your drink, into your bread
Upon your cattle, on your sheep
Upon your oxen in your field
Into your dreams, into your sleep
Until you break, until you yield
I send my scourge, I send my sword
Thus saith the Lord
Thus saith the Lord...

[RAMESES, sung]
No power on Earth
Sometimes I feel I have
No power on Earth

[MOSES]
You can make it right
You're the one who can fix this
All you have to do is give the order
You can make it right

[MOSES, spoken]
Rameses, let my people go

[RAMESES, spoken]
You will not give me orders. You will not threaten me!

[ENSEMBLE]
I send the swarm, I send the horde
I send my scourge, I send my sword

[RAMESES & (MOSES), sung]
No power on Earth
(You can make it right)
Can change my mind
(Only you can fix this)

[ENSEMBLE]
I send my fire raining down
Such as the world has never seen

[RAMESES & (MOSES)]
No power on Earth
(Brother take the chance while you still have it)
Will tell me what's it all going
(Now before the horrors grow)

[ENSEMBLE]
On every stalk, on every leaf
Until there's nothing left of green

[RAMESES & (MOSES), sung]
Now finally my heart is hardened
(You can't win this fight)
Now this I finally know
(One last time, I beg you)
I will never let your people go!
(Let my people go!)

[ENSEMBLE]
Thus saith the Lord

[MOSES]
Thus saith the Lord

[RAMESES & (ENSEMBLE)]
I will not let your people go!
(Let my people go!)