“Star Wars” Order 66 (Darth Sidious Aria)

"Order 66"
(A Tragick Chant of Darth Sidious, in Three Movements)

[RECITATIVO]

[Musical Solo. Low and thunderous, half-spoken, like a fell incantation.]

[PALPATINE. Declamatory]
The hour draweth nigh; the veil is rent.
Yon Jedi, proud in light, dost prance as kings—
Yet know they not what doom to them is sent,
Nor whence the serpent in the garden springs.

I, cloaked in peace, with falsehood on my lips,
Did bid them counsel, while I forged the spear.
Now falleth mask, and from my fingers slips
The chain that bindeth all to dark and fear.

[ARIOSO]

[[Musical Solo. Melodic, laced with contempt. His voice grows richer, darker.]

[PALPATINE. Singing]
Full many a year hath passed in whispered plots,
Whilst Senate chamber rang with hollow cheer.
I smiled and bowed, yet counted all their thoughts—
Their trust, their pride, their doom drew ever near.

In vat-born flesh my will was writ complete,
Each clone a vessel for my dread command.
What oath they swore, they swore with shackl’d feet,
And knew it not—behold my unseen hand!

Rise now, ye host of silent, waiting death,
Obey the code engraved upon thy soul!
Let traitors gasp their last and yield their breath,
Ere night descendeth fast and takes its toll.

[ARIA. "ORDER 66"]

[[Musical Solo. Orchestration swells with storm and fury. Lightning crashes. The voice of tyranny made flesh.]

[PALPATINE. In full wrath and glory]
Now speak the words — Order Sixty-Six!
Let slip the bolt, the blade, the cruel affix!
Show no pity, spare not one,
Let the purging be begun.

From Kamino’s darksome womb
Issued forth in armor’d womb,
Born not for love, nor peace, nor mirth—
But to scour the Jedi from the earth.

Let Coruscant in silence weep,
Let Kashyyyk’s forests burn and sleep.
Let every temple writhe in flame,
And naught remain but Sith and name!

[CHOIR. Echoing as furies]
He is shadow. He is throne.
Galaxies to him are known.

[PALPATINE]
I am storm in mortal guise,
I am wrath that never dies!
Let the Force be torn asunder,
Let the stars fall down in thunder!

[CHOIR]
Order! Order! Sixty-Six!
Break the world, the old betwixt!

[PALPATINE. With final roaring cry]
ORDER! ORDER! SIXTY—SIIIIX!!!

[A silence. Then a scream in the Force.]