Songs inspired by Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
Flute & Hurdy-Gurdy - Kristoffer Nowak
Vocals on "Speak The Speech Pt. 2" - Joyce Sanhá
Vocals & Harmonica on "Pickaxe & Spade" - Jan Schreiber
Vocals on "He Is Dead" - Deborah Barbieri
Mix & Master - Emanuel Krimplstätter
Vocals & Guitar - Ian Fisher
This is a collection of songs written by Ian Fisher for Amélie Niermeyer & Jana Vetten's production of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" at the Tiroler Landestheater. All songs were inspired by William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and written by Ian Fisher. "Death Is Not The End", "If You In Your Heart" and "He Is Dead" were co-written with Bryan Benner and the music for the madrigal is by Luca Marenzio.
1. Omen (Synth Madrigal)
composed by Luca Marenzio
2. Death Is Not The End
written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner
death is not the end of the story
it’s the start you’ve been dying to find
flip the lights and hoist up the bodies
we’ve got nothing so there’s nothing to hide
if you got something to say then you should say it
instead of waiting to make up your mind
because time is all that we got to waste and if you waste it
then there’s nothing left for you but to die
curse this kingdom of dirt
a dead empire I have earned
the silence only death deserves
so let it be and let it burn
let this heart be ordered high
and pierced upon a stage to stand
delivered to the globe tonight
through carnal casual acts
deliver me my setting son
deliver from fasting fires
remember me to anyone
not slave to their desires
curse this kingdom of dirt
a dead empire I have earned
the silence only death deserves
so let it be and let it burn
3. Murder Most Foul
written by Ian Fisher
sleeping in the orchard in the hour of the snake
he slithered round me softly for a brother’s crown to take
cursed juice in a vial poured where once went only sound
a leperous distilment the result murder most foul
lazar-like with vile and its course quicksilver swift
through blood with vigor rushing turned it into a drip
the natural gates and alleys of this kingdom shutting down
we played Caen and Abel in our own murder most foul
struck down in my sin with imperfection on my head
first he took my life from me then took my wife to bed
but you leave her to heaven she won’t get there anyhow
all I ask is vengeance on the murderer most foul
if you ever loved me son then mark me by my words
for I’ll be damned to fast in fires if they are not heard
but soft I scent the morning and my time is running out
so remember me while murdering the murderer most foul
4. Speak The Speech Pt. 1
written by Ian Fisher
flutes by Kristoffer Nowak
speak the speech I told you to speak
don’t mouth it like you’re the town crier
calm down stop whaling / flailing around
a tempest is strongest when smooth
clowns clowns all of you clowns
just speak what is set down for you
don’t imitate humanity
with something that it doesn’t do
suit the action to the word
and the word to the act
cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing
when the mouse is in the trap
show the crowd what it doesn’t see
a truth they are trying to hide from
the form and pressure of times
that we all have to live through
laugh laugh laughing aloud
are pitiful distracted fools
show the world the stage that it is
don’t delay but don’t come too soon
suit the action to the word
and the word to the act
cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing
when the mouse is in the trap
5. Every Father Has a Father Lost
written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner
break my heart if I could hold my tongue
no it is not and no good will come
from a death without the sleep
between to be and not to be
still nearly warm the funeral meats
have furnished forth a wedding feast
incestious sheet to where she raced
frailty be woman’s name
she says seek your father in the dust - seek your father in the dust
at least the whisper goes so - at least the whisper goes
he says every father has a father lost - every father has a father lost
but who are they to know son - who are they to know
steal the fetters from your lips
if time weren’t out of joint I’d quit
smithing swords for you to swing
as swift as meditation’s wings
now seek your father in the blood - seek your father in the blood
heed the whisper’s call son - heed the whisper’s call
though every father has a father lost - every father has a father lost
remember where I’ve gone son - and follow
6. Omen (Flute Madrigal)
composed by Luca Marenzio
flutes by Kristoffer Nowak
7. Speak The Speech Pt. 2 (Joyce Sanhá)
written by Ian Fisher
lead vocals by Joyce Sanhá
flutes by Kristoffer Nowak
speak the speech I told you to speak
don’t mouth it like you’re the town crier
calm down stop whaling / flailing around
a tempest is strongest when smooth
clowns clowns all of you clowns
just speak what is set down for you
don’t imitate humanity
with something that it doesn’t do
suit the action to the word
and the word to the act
cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing
when the mouse is in the trap
show the crowd what it doesn’t see
a truth they are trying to hide from
the form and pressure of times
that we all have to live through
laugh laugh laughing aloud
are pitiful distracted fools
show the world the stage that it is
don’t delay but don’t come too soon
suit the action to the word
and the word to the act
cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing
when the mouse is in the trap
8. Rage Into The Night
written by Ian Fisher
in my heart’s a kind of fight
but divinity still shapes our ends
so hold your axes out to grind
when all the golden words are spent
for if it’s now - then it’s not to come
if not to come - then it will be now
so speak the trumpets to the drum
till all that’s lefts an empty crown
damn your heavenly guards there’s no easy way out
your passion with time will blunt itself into doubt
don’t forget what you have avowed
now rage into the night - rage into the night
noone knows what they leave behind
till it’s left and they still don’t know
my eyes are dark as they are wide
without a sign of tomorrow
damn your heavenly guards there’s no easy way out
your passion with time will blunt itself into doubt
don’t forget what you have avowed
now rage into the night - rage into the night
9. He Is Dead (Deborah Barbieri)
written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner
lead vocals by Deborah Barbieri
flutes by Kristoffer Nowak
drown the stage in tears
what would you do if you had something real to fear
the weight of the arms above you
like I have but without tongue
will speak as deep as to the lung
heard after I go
shroud as white as snow
larded all with sweet flowers
to the grave won’t go
bewept with a true love’s shower
he is dead
he is gone
at his head the grass grows long
and I grow alone
10. Pickaxe & Spade (Jan Schreiber)
written by Ian Fisher
lead vocals & harmonica by Jan Schreiber
In my youth I did love
Thought that time I was above
But age it came with stealing steps
And shipped me off as if I’d never been (with a)
Pickaxe and spade
Pickaxe and spade
Gravemaker is gonna make you a grave (with a)
Pickaxe and spade
Pickaxe and spade
Build you a home to last till doomsday
Here lies the water here stands the man
Does he drown himself if the water comes to him
Here holds a skull that used to sing
Here’s Adam’s call to dig
Pickaxe and spade
Pickaxe and spade
Gravemaker is gonna make you a grave (with a)
Pickaxe and spade
Pickaxe and spade
Build you a home to last till doomsday
11. What Dreams May Come
composed by Ian Fisher
Bonus 1 - Ophelia Believe Me (Slow)
written by Ian Fisher
Bonus 2 - Ophelia Believe Me (Fast)
written by Ian Fisher
Bonus 3 - Pyrrhus Black as Purpose
written by Ian Fisher
hurdy-gurdy by Kristoffer Nowak
Bonus 4 - Speak The Speech Pt. 2 (Ian Fisher)
written by Ian Fisher
flutes by Kristoffer Nowak
Bonus 5 - He Is Dead (Ian Fisher)
written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner
flutes by Kristoffer Nowak
Bonus 6 - Pickaxe & Spade (Ian Fisher)
written by Ian Fisher
Bonus 7 - If You In Your Heart
written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner
