Quartet: There's a Man (Transition)

Last night I dreamed I walked through the maze to Lily's garden
And saw Lily and Mary standing there
Mary standing right there, in Lily's garden
I turned away; I couldn't watch them
I was afraid

Why won't he say what he wants?
Why must he speak in dreams?
Why can't he see what he wants?
To disappear, it seems!
He should send this haunted girl far away
Leave the house and lands to me!

I watched them walk around the garden
She stood tall, grown strong and bold
Then they turned and asked my pardon
I couldn't speak, my heart grown cold

Why can't he see what he wants?
He wants the past undone!
Why can't he know what he wants?
He's losing battles won
To have ever loved her
Never known how complete a loss can be
If she could disappear, he'd start again
And live like other men, he could be happy then
If she'd disappear, he could be free
Cut off from pain and loss
A bit like me

You can't marry this Archibald!
He's a gloomy miserable cripple who hides himself away
In that horrible house!
He can't believe you love him and neither can I!

No one is asking for your approval, Rose!
Lily, think about your children
Do you want your children to be crippled as well?
I will marry him!

I can arrange what he wants (Don't do this!)
He's left it all to me (Don't wed him!)
Now he can have what he wants (Don't bed him!)
Unfettered he will be (Don't do this)
Set him free to wander (Set him free)
Through the world
Let him go
His lonely way!

Then I longed to join them
Know the peace they feel (Now that I love him)
Their journey done
Then I woke once more without them (I will live for him)
Knew I must wander on and on (Live just to love him)
I go (I won't forgive you!)
(Won't see you live there!)
Life to find! (Lily, I swear I'll never see you!)

Just to disappear (Do what you will, then)
Is to be free! (I'll never leave him!)
Cut off from pain (Cut off from pain)
Cut off from pain (Cut off from pain)
I'll help him disappear! (Now you must leave him!)
He'll start again! (Yes, you must leave him)
And if I go to them (Yes, you must leave him!)
He could be happy then (Lily, promise!)
Just to disappear is to be free (Yes, you must leave him)
You must believe!

Disappear!

I will wed and bear him children (Lily, think about the children)
He will love me, love the children (Lily, think about the children)

I shan't be gone long
Perhaps just til the autumn
And Mary?
I'll write her a note from Paris
Now I'll go look in on Colin
Just see that you don't wake him
In ten years, have I ever awakened the boy?

There's a man who no one sees
There's a man who lives alone
There's a heart that beats in silence for
The life he's never known