Who Is This Child Lyrics - Beethoven's Last Night - Trans Siberian Orchestra

[BEETHOVEN] 

WHO IS THIS CHILD 

THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE 

WHO IS THIS CHILD 

THAT I'VE NOT SEEN TILL THIS DAY 

WHO DARES TO FALL ASLEEP 

OUTSIDE MY DOOR 

IF WE SHOULD WAIT AWHILE 

I'M SURE SHE'LL GO AWAY 

TO BE INVOLVED WITH THIS 

WOULD SURELY NOT BE WISE 

FOR IN THE FINAL WORD 

SHE MEANS NOTHING TO ME 

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I LEARNED THE TRICK IS 

THAT WE JUST AVOID HER EYES 

AND THE QUESTION 

WHAT SHE MEANS TO ... 

WHAT IS THIS LIFE 

THERE WILL BE OTHER LIVES 

SOON TO ARRIVE 

SURELY SOME WILL SURVIVE 

SHE IS BUT ONE 

AND THERE ARE MANY MORE 

EACH THE SAME AS ANY OTHER 

WHO IS THIS CHILD 

WHAT DOES SHE MEAN TO ME 

I CLOSE MY EYES 

AND STILL HER FACE I SEE 

SHE IS BUT ONE 

HER KIND IS EVERYWHERE 

CAN'T YOU SEE THERE'S NO WAY I SHOULD CARE 

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I NEED A MOMENT NOW 

I HAVE TO CLEAR MY MIND 

THERE IS A LIMIT LORD 

JUST TO BEING KIND 

THERE IS NO WAY IN LIFE 

THAT EACH CHILD CAN BE SAVED 

SHOULD I BE LOOKING WITH REGRET 

AT EVERY GRAVE 

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES 

IN LIFE SHE SHOULD BE WARNED 

I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR 

THIS CHILD BEING BORN 

I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE 

IN ANY KIND OF WAY 

FOR EVERY CHILD THAT LIFE CAN GATHER 

WHAT IS THIS LIFE 

THERE WILL BE OTHER LIVES 

SOON TO ARRIVE 

SURELY SOME WILL SURVIVE 

SHE IS BUT ONE 

AND THERE ARE MANY MORE 

COULD THIS ONE LIFE REALLY MATTER 

WHO IS THIS CHILD 

WHAT DOES SHE MEAN TO ME 

I CLOSE MY EYES 

AND STILL HER FACE I SEE 

SHE IS BUT ONE 

HER KIND IS EVERYWHERE 

CAN'T YOU SEE THERE'S NO WAY I SHOULD CARE 

CAN YOU SEE IT IN THE NIGHT 

CAN YOU FEEL THAT IT'S OUT THERE 

IT'S THE ARCING OF A LIFE 

AND IT'S HANGING IN THE AIR 

THOUGH I TRY TO CLOSE MY EYES 

AND PRETEND THAT I DON'T KNOW 

IN MY HEART 

I JUST CAN'T LET IT GO 

THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY FOR ME 

A WAY THAT LEADS FROM THIS INSANITY 

A WAY THAT LEADS FROM MY DESTRUCTION IN THIS WAY 

CAN YOU SEE IT IN THE NIGHT 

CAN YOU FEEL THAT IT'S OUT THERE 

IT'S THE ARCING OF A LIFE 

AND IT'S HANGING IN THE AIR 

THOUGH I TRY TO CLOSE MY EYES 

AND PRETEND THAT I DON'T KNOW 

IN MY HEART 

I JUST CAN'T LET IT GO 

[Despite his best efforts he cannot bring himself to leave the child to this evil, and collapsing on the piano bench, he tells the devil that he has a deal. Beethoven is now a totally broken man as the fact sinks in that he has lost both his soul and his Tenth Symphony.] 

[Mephistopheles dances with delight as he picks up the manuscript never noticing Twist who sneaks over and whispers in Ludwig's ear, "How do you know that Mephistopheles will keep his word?" Beethoven sits up and repeats the question aloud. Mephistopheles, never looking up from examining his prize, replies that Beethoven can draw up his own wording for a contract that they will write on a page torn from the back of a bible. Beethoven glances questioningly towards Fate who is still watching from the background. She nods her head for even the shadows know that a contract written on such sacred paper is unbreakable, even by the devil himself.] 

[Beethoven, totally exhausted, mutters his consent but is unable to write the words that will bring about the destruction of his beloved Tenth. Fate, sensing his dilemma, offers to write down the agreement for him and he hands the paper to her. As he stares out the window Fate writes,] 

[It is agreed upon this night, March 26, 1827, between the undersigned, that the music of the Tenth Symphony, composed by Ludwig von Beethoven, first born son of Johann and Maria von Beethoven, of the city of Bonn, shall henceforth be the property of Mephistopheles, Lord of Darkness and first fallen from the grace of God. It is also understood that it is his intention to remove any signs of this music from the memory of man for all eternity. In exchange for the destruction of the aforementioned music it is also agreed that Mephistopheles and all his minions will remove themselves from the life of the child presently sleeping in the gutter directly across from the window of this room. This removal of influence is to be commenced immediately upon signing and to be enforced for all eternity.] 

[_____________________ Ludwig Von Beethoven] 

[_____________________ Mephistopheles] 

[Mephistopheles reads the paper, signs it and pushes it in front of Beethoven. Without even looking at the document the composer signs the paper. Immediately, Mephistopheles reaches over the piano, seizes the Tenth's manuscript and thrusts it over a lit candle. The papers are engulfed in a wall of flames. But when the flames have died down the devil is stunned to find that not only does the manuscript still exist, it is not even singed. Thrusting it back over the candle it is once again engulfed in flames only to emerge unscathed.] 

[Sensing that he has been tricked, he screams for an explanation but Beethoven's expression tells him that he is as shocked at the turn of events as the Devil himself. As Mephistopheles is glancing once more at the manuscript he hears the sound of Twist giggling in the darkness.] 

[When he demands to know what the dwarf is laughing at, Twist can hardly conceal his delight as he explains that the composer's parents gave birth to a son prior to the maestro's birth. They had named him Ludwig von Beethoven but the child died within his first year. They then named their second son Ludwig as well. Twist continues, "The man before you is that Ludwig Von Beethoven, the second born son of Johann & Maria Von Beethoven. You have purchased a Tenth Symphony of Ludwig Von Beethoven, first born of Johann & Maria, if he ever writes one." Mephistopheles glares at Fate, who smiles back at him demurely. Then, throwing the music back at Beethoven, he screams in frustration and disappears in an explosion of smoke and flame.] 

[Beethoven is surprised by Mephistopheles' rapid departure and asks if he is not coming back to collect his soul. To which Fate replies that he never had any claim to his soul.] 

["But Mephistopheles said..."] 

["He is the devil," Fate replies, "He lies."] 

["But, there were times when I was rude and cruel to people," Beethoven stutters.] 

["True, the frustration of your deafness did cause you at times to lash out unfairly at others, but later you would always regret it and apologize. You often went through great lengths to make amends for any hurts you had caused. Believe me Ludwig, you have done well."] 

[And with those words a warm feeling of peace spreads throughout Beethoven's body and across his soul.] 

[When he asks Fate what is to happen next, she gently tells him that it is time for him to rest, for tonight he will dream a new dream within the gates of paradise. And as the words weave their way into his soul, Beethoven lies down on the couch near his piano and begins a new dream.]