A musical narrative with character voices and chorus
[written for Jyotsna 2005. Performed in Svaradhara in Dec 2005]
1. BRINDAVAN, on a calm and fine day. MUSIC IN.
Kaliye:
Ssss… Ssss… Shhh…. Shhhh
Slowly and surely I make my slippery journey…
Of my slithering serpentine self to that…
Fabulous fragrant abode of joy
Calmly carefully I crawl cravenly
Surreptitiously superstitiously to that…
Fabulous playground of that Krishna boy!
For I have heard…
It’s a place of plenty
of pleasure and leisure
Of bliss so divine… it’s absurd
For I have heard…
That Krishna is a morsel
so sweet so plump so yum
Not to go… would be absurd
So,
Calmly carefully Kaliye, that’s me,
Kaliye slithers surrep-superstitiously
To that sweet, plump, yum, fun playground
Of that… of Kaliye’s Krishna boy
2. FLUTE SONG IN
Gopas:
(Laughter song) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!
HARI! Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari
Gopa 1:
C’mon guys
While our cows graze away
With Krishna we must play
Gopa 2:
Under a tree he’s fast asleep
It’s time for… hide and seek
Gopas sing Laughter Song
Gopa 3:
With Krishna we love to stay all day
Listen to his flute, while the time away
Gopa 4:
Under the sky life is sweet
Krishna makes everything complete
Gopas:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Let’s hide let’s hide
Hee hee hee hee hee hee
He’ll seek he will seek
3. CELLO KALIYE
Kaliye:
Mmmmm… shlurp! I hear voishes I shmell food
My tonguesh’ shlurping… Oooo… it’sh sho good
Gopas:
With Krishna we love to stay all day
Kaliye:
Kaliye – today’sh your day
Gopas:
With Krishna we must play
Kaliye:
The sweet dumpling’sh coming your way… (music crescendo)
KHAAAAARRRH!
Gopa 1:
Who are you…?
Kaliye:
Kaaaa….!
Gopa 2:
Who?
Kaliye:
Kaliye!
Gopa 3:
Who are you looking for?
Kaliye:
Krishna!
Gopa 4:
You’re a snake!
Kaliye:
I know… is that bad?
Gopa 5:
You’re beautiful!
Kaliye:
Thank you!
Gopa 6:
You’re so long!
Kaliye:
You’re so cute!
Gopa 7:
You’re so colourful!
Kaliye:
And magical… mmmmmmm (bewitching music)
Gopas 2, 3, 4 & 5:
Wow!
Kaliye:
Yow!
Gopa 1:
He’s blue, he’s green, now he’s red and purple
Gopa 6:
He’s got rubies and diamonds…
Kaliye:
Look! Look at my eyes… (bewitching music)
Gopas 4, 5, 6, & 7:
Wow!….
Gopa 1:
You are fabulous
Gopa 2:
You are phenomenal!
Kaliye:
But hungry
Gopa 3:
You are always changing
Gopa 4:
You are enchanting
Kaliye:
But hungry
Gopa 5:
You are Kaliya, what can we give you?
Kaliye:
Something to eat… something, someone
You’re so cute and juicy, can I eat you?
Just kidding, kids, actually I’m vegetarian.
I’m on a fast…. Look in my mouth
Aaahhh!…. it’s clean, haven’t had anything substantial for years…
See!… aaaaah!
Gopa 1:
Open your mouth bigger…
Kaliye:
Sure!… aaaah!
Gopas 2, 3, 4:
What a big mouth!
It’s like a cave
Oh look!, he’s got shining jewels for teeth
Kaliye:
Yaa, step right in for a closeup inspection
Free admission
Step right in and be sure… be my guest!
Aaaah!… kamawn dawn we shy!
Gopas 3, 4, 5 & 6
Let’s go in and have a look
Let’s go in
Let’s have a look
Let’s hide here
Krishna won’t find us here
Let’s hide here
Krishna won’t know where to look
Wait!
Let’s wait for Krishna
Kaliye:
KHAAAARRRHHH!
Krishna:
KALIYA!
Gopas:
Krishna!
Kaliye:
Krishnaaaa!
Krishna:
Can I be the first?
Kaliye:
Ooooo… sure… but why deny your friends the pleasure
I’ve got so many heads, let each one enter whichever head
He wants…. Hmmm
Krishna:
No, Kaliye…
Kaliye:
Mmmm OK
Krishna:
I’m going in…
Kaliye:
I’m waiting…
MUSIC EFX
Gopas, separately and together:
He closed his mouth!
He’s got Krishna in his mouth!
Kaliya, spit him out
Kaliye:
Mmmmm? (laughing) Hmhm hm hm!!!
Gopas, as before:
Spit him out
Give him out
You’re a lout
Give him out or
We’ll beat the daylights out…
MUSIC EFX
Kaliye:
AAARRRGGGHHH!
Gopas, as before:
He’s opened his mouth
Krishna’s coming out…
Kaliye:
Aaaoooowwww! Why you….!
Krishna:
Why you dirty, lying slippery evil thief of a snake
A juicy yummy meal of us you want to make…
Kaliye:
Why you… who are you calling a snake?
You pulled out my teeth, you’ve given me a splitting headache!
Krishna:
You came pretending to be friends with us
You actually wanted to make an end of us…
Kaliye:
YESSS!
Slowly and surely
I have made my slippery journey
of my slithering serpentine self
To this fabulous fragrant abode of joy
For I have heard
of this place of plenty
Of pleasure and leisure
Of Krishna so divine… it’s absurd!
I WANT TO EAT YOU!
4. BATTLE
Music up in tempo excitement to show the face off between Krishna and Kaliye. Kaliye pounces on Krishna powerfully and swirls and twirls, creating a strong current in the river, and secures Krishna within his coils. His numerous heads gather one by one around the struggling Krishna, and are glaring at him with hate and venom. Just as Kaliye is about to strike, Krishna gives him a hard kick, and jumps onto Kaliye’s head/heads. He begins to dance. His dancing feet pummel Kaliye with great force, and the amazing feat of a dance as a form of attack is a wondrous sight. Kaliye is unable to withstand the terrible and terrific blows from the divine child. He finally gives up the fight. [a full orchestration of this segment should bring out the joy, power, excitement of Krishna’s feat.]
Kaliye:
Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!
Let me be, release me
O child of wonder and light
Have mercy on me
Forgive my impunity
Forgive my audacity
Please, have pity on me!
Krishna:
O beautiful Kaliye
A monster you have become
You have grown covetous and cruel
Greedy and insatiable
Can it be that I should let you live
And once again let the world tremble at your name?
Or should I now kick your brains in
And you will never crawl the earth ever again?
Kaliye:
O Krishna, divine lord, supreme being
Let me live, let me live!
You are divine, you can forgive!
Let me live and sing your name
In yonder place where none can be harmed by me
Let me sing your glories
Let me sing of your glorious feet
That danced on my head
Let me live so I can sing of Hari!
Krishna:
Live, Kaliye…
Kaliye:
O Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari
Gopas:
Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari
All together:
Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari
THE END
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