(--Passages from my unfinished, abandoned adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's novel "Ivanhoe." I finally had to face the impracticality of the musical with its requisite large cast, lavish sets, and expensive costumes. I quietly filed it away.)

Notes and lyrics for the five passages of the montage:

a) Strongly We Stand – based on music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, lyrics by Julian Sturgis

--adapted from "Drink, Drink ye All" in the first scene of Sir Arthur Sullivan's 1891 opera based on Ivanhoe. - Lord Cedric of Rotherwood is encouraging his fellow Saxons to rebel against the occupying Normans and reclaim England for their own.

Cedric

FILL THE CUP FILL HIGH
(FILL THE CUP)
SING YOUR LOUD GOODBYE
(GOODBYE)
TO THOSE WHO TOOK OUR LAND
(FILL THE CUP)
STRONGLY WE STAND UNITED
OUR SAXON BAND

All

STRONGLY WE STAND UNITED
OUR SAXON BAND

b) Mayhem (The Tournament)

--Spectators at the tournament admit that though they are civilized, they do enjoy watching the dangerous sports of a tournament. - Ivanhoe is one of the combatants, hiding his identity as Il Desdichado-the unfortunate and unhappy disinherited knight.

Spectators

OH WE MUST GET CLOSER TO THE FIELD
SO WE'LL HEAR EACH CLASH OF SWORD AND SHIELD
AND OUR HEARTS ARE ALL A-RACING
AS OPPONENTS ALL ARE FACING
POSSIBLE DOOM
WHEN THEY'LL HAVE TO DIE OR YIELD

WE LOVE PEACE
BUT WE DON'T LOVE BOREDOM
GIVE US THE SPECTACLE OF FIGHTING MEN
JUST AS LONG AS IT'S A GAME
AND NOT A BLOODY WAR
AND THE PLAYERS ONLY DIE
NOW AND THEN
OH...

HOW OUR HEARTS SPEED UP AND START TO RACE
WHEN A STRONG ARM SWINGS A MIGHTY MACE
WE JUST HAVE TO SEE
ONCE IN A WHILE
MAYHEM TAKE PLACE

c) On The Outside

--Wamba The Fool begs Locksley (AKA Robin Hood) to join in the upcoming storming of Torquilstone Castle where Ivanhoe and friends are held captive.

Locksley

BRING EVERY WEAPON
AND BRING YOUR COURAGE TOO

Wamba

I KNOW
YOU DON'T
THINK I CAN PULL MY WEIGHT

Locksley

THAT'S TRUE

Wamba

HAND ME
YOUR BOW
I'LL SHOOT THE ARROW STRAIGHT

Locksley

GO TO

Wamba

GIVE ME A CHANCE
I'LL STOP AN ARMY

Locksley

HA HA
YOU'RE SUCH A FUNNY FOOL

Wamba

I KNOW
YOU MUST THINK
I AM BARMY

Locksley

GO START A JESTER'S SCHOOL

Wamba & Locksley

BUT YOU/JUST STAND
GOT TO/BACK AND
LET ME JOIN THE FRAY/DON'T GET HURT

WE'LL DO THE FIGHTING

Wamba

AND LET ME HELP
YOU WIN THE DAY

Locksley

WE'RE NOT INVITING YOU

Wamba

ON THE OUTSIDE
I'M A FOOL
ON THE INSIDE
I'M A HERO
AND I DON'T FIGHT
AS A RULE
BUT WHEN IT COMES
TO HELPING OUT
I'M NOT A ZERO

Locksley

TIME WE SHOULD GO

Wamba

I KNOW...

d) How Long the War?

--Fellow prisoner Rebecca the Jewess looks out in horror at the raging siege of the castle and describes the carnage to the wounded Ivanhoe who is unable to move to the window.

Rebecca

I SEE MEN FIGHTING
I WONDER WHAT THEY'RE THINKING?
ARE THEIR FAMILIES
PRAYING FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN?

I SEE MEN DYING
I WONDER IF THEY'RE DREAMING
WHAT CAN ALL THE REST OF US NOW LEARN?

I HEAR MEN SCREAMING
LOUDER THAN THE TRUMPETS
DRUMS ARE LIKE THEIR HEARTBEATS
ONLY NOT AS LOUD

I SEE MEN PRAYING
OVER FALLEN COMRADES
DEATH IS SPREADING OUT
HIS FEARFUL SHROUD

IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE QUESTION
HOW LONG THE WAR?
WILL WE EVER UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR?
IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE QUESTION
HOW LONG THE WAR?

e) Libera Nos a Malo (Deliver us from Evil)

--The Templars grimly gather to convict Rebecca, determined to burn her at the stake.

Grand Master

PATER, SALVA NOS AB HOC SAECULO.
PATER MULIERUM PROTEGAT.
(FATHER, SAVE US FROM THIS WORLD.
FATHER, PROTECT US FROM WOMEN.)

The Templars

DONA NOBIS AMOR ET PACEM.
NOS TUA HUMILIS SERVI.
NISI NOBIS.
(GRANT US YOUR LOVE AND PEACE.
WE ARE YOUR HUMBLE SERVANTS. SAVE US.)