In Arden

[ALL]
In Arden, oh, in Arden, oh, in Arden
How shall we learn to be?

In Arden, oh, in Arden, oh, in Arden
How shall we learn to be?

In Arden, oh, in Arden, oh, in Arden
How shall we learn to be?

In Arden, oh, in Arden, oh, in Arden
How shall we learn to be?

[DUKE SENIOR]
Calling all our friends and family in exile
Gather round as we make a song!
How shall we sing of grace in this strange place?
I don’t know, but I’ll sing along

[ALL]
In Arden

[DUKE SENIOR]
We shall try to find the use in our distress

[ALL]
In Arden

DUKE SENIOR:
We shall answer to advеrsity with kindness

[ALL]
In Arden

[DUKE SENIOR]
We shall seek thе blessings in our miseries

[ALL]
We shall learn to see the forest for the trees

[DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS]
Oh when the icy winter wind benumbs my body
Even though I shiver, I am still alive
I smile and thank the wind for its honesty
Reminding my skin it’s thick enough to survive

[ALL]
In Arden!

[DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS]
We shall study all the sermons in the stones

[ARDENITES]
In Arden!

[DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS]
We shall hear the language of our hearts and bones

[ALL]
In Arden!

[DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS]
We shall read the book in the brook and sacred spring
We shall listen for the truth in everything

[ALL]
The cave becomes our roof
The fire becomes our heat
The rain becomes our drink
The deer become our food to eat!

[JAQUES]
Do you realize that the deer we eat for dinner
Are actually thinking, feeling creatures
Who lived here long before we came?
And when we occupy their native home
And hunt them down
We’re no better than your brother
Who displaced us just the same!

[DUKE SENIOR, spoken]
Oh, Jaques. It does irk me — the poor dappled fools, should in their own confines have their round haunches gored

[JAQUES]
But the deer themselves are just as bad as we are!
I recently saw one with an arrow in his heart
On his dying breath
And when the other deer went by
They just ignored their wounded kin
Deliberately leaving her to a cold and lonely death!
And another thing!
Wait, I lost my train of thought...

[DUKE SENIOR, spoken]
Jaques, I love to cope with you in these sullen fits
For you are full of matter!
Everybody! Two, three, four!

[ALL]
In Arden!

[DUKE SENIOR]
We shall find out what we’re made of from the rain

[ALL]
In Arden!

[JAQUES]
We shall find we’re made of selfishness and pain!

[ALL]
In Arden!

[DUKE SENIOR]
We shall search for harmony in every turn

[JAQUES]
We shall make the same mistakes and never learn!

[DUKE SENIOR, spoken]
Fie on thee, Jaques!

[ALL]
In Arden!

[DUKE SENOR]
We shall unify!

[ALL]
In Arden!

[JAQUES]
We shall all soon die!

[ALL]
In Arden!

[DUKE SENIOR]
We shall pitch a tent!

[JAQUES]
We shall ruin the environment!

[ALL]
In Arden, we shall reach out in the darkness and arise!
In Arden, we shall see the light within each other’s eyes!
In Arden, we shall make a sanctuary all as one!

[DUKE SENIOR]
Our love shall be our shepherd and our sun!

[JAQUES]
'Til it burns out and kills us all

[ARDENITES]
Together we’ll heal our wound
Together we’ll heal our wound
Together we’ll heal our wound
Together we’ll heal our wound
In Arden!