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The Space Between — the faith version of Paper Gun

The second show

Fourteen numbers · about an hour · one man, one piano

The Space Between — the faith version of Paper Gun. Paul Tosh at the piano, head bowed over the keys.

“The space above is filled with love, but the space between is what gets you there.”

Introduction clips

What this is

A standalone evening drawn from a larger work that a congregation can take: the lament, the plea, the prayer and the release. It is not the operetta cut down. It is a different program using some of the songs for a faith organization.

It is a set about carrying something you cannot put down, and what to do with it. It is a sermon subject, not a therapy subject.

The running order

This Is Mine opens and closes it, which is how the full work is built too — the same four lines meaning something different by the end.

The Faith Set — live

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The songs

The first four in full. After that, a line from each.

1This Is Mine›
This is mine, but you can have it.
This is mine, but you can have it.
This is mine, but you can have it —
'cause it's all I've got to give.
2Fear Hate›
Paul one of life's greatest challenges
one of life's hardest things
is not to allow fear to turn to hate
sounds kinda simple
but I wonder if you can relate
One of life's most difficult things to do
Whether you're Protestant, Catholic or a Jew
is not to allow fear to turn into hate
I wonder if you'd agree
you can nod profusely at me
But if you don't really understand
you can show me the back of your hand
Yes one of life's most difficult things to do
Whether you're Protestant, Catholic, Muslim or a Jew
is not to allow fear to turn into hate
3You and Your Own›
E It's such a shame when we complain
about our nearest, dearest —
about the ones we need the most.
Who could have given us all we are.
And yes, I know you're not alone,
it's not just you — I know it’s everyone.
But we pass it off, in saying we always hurt the ones we love.
You and your own
— it just makes sense in the battle zone,
not sitting on the fence.
You and your own
— it just makes sense in the battle zone,
not sitting on the fence.
N But if you go, you'll be tested right away.
You'll be tested right away if you go.
So I stay.
Say what you like, do what you do —
there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
E I’ve got a good reason for taking the easy way out….. now.
4The Open Secret›
N When I'm raw from something I saw,
when I've lost that feeling,
the ability to relate,
I'm losing standing...
...forgiving.
To keep me alive I kill it inside,
vainly numbing out any old wishing.
E So take the day off — why not!
Say you have a cough? Pretend!
N No no. No more of that —
you don't know where it'll end.
E OK, so just be sincere.
Say — in your own way —
you don't want to be here.
N But here is fine.
It's just a matter of time.
the Narrator to audience …between you and me: "you know that's a line."
E A bit faster than mountains,
but slower than clouds.
Contradiction's the terms —
it's all that's allowed.
N And in that deafening silence,
the open secret returns:
what's too long…..
…will we ever learn?
E …. it's been a while.
I see you've still got your style.
All laughs,
and in your eyes, no smile...
5The Journey›

“When truth, it is argued, silence is safer — safer in all honesty.”

6A Little Amnesty›

“Well, if what you want is some sanity, try to broker a little amnesty.”

7Broken Man›

“G-d help a broken man — if that is what I am.”

8The Space Between›

“The space above is filled with love, but the space between is what gets you there.”

9Phenomenal Heart›

“Let it out and bring it to the surface. I know it’s in there — let it out.”

10Let Me Cry›

“Let me cry for those who need it most.”

11Your Paper Heart›

“You don’t have to tell me why. It’s the hardest thing to try.”

12Faith›

“His truth abounds without a sound, even in a mess.”

13For the Narrator›

“Dear Lord, give me wisdom. Dear Lord, give me strength. Dear Lord, no more division.”

14Coming Home›

“The angels cry for what you know — just close your eyes and just let go.”

Who Knows Just Whyin reserve›

“Who knows just why we turned around and hide when reminded of love.”

Opera lyric adaptations

Where some of this material came from — the great operatic and Neapolitan melodies, given English lyrics of my own.

An optional talkback

The show is catharsis. The talkback is where the work starts. The method at the back of the program came out of a relationship that couldn’t be repaired.

Ten minutes at the end, for anyone who wants to stay. It is the same frame every time, so a presenter knows in advance what their people are sent home with: that sadness is a doorway rather than an end, that nothing gets built by someone who blames, but that satisfaction as a precursor comes from learning for its own sake.

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Or see the full operetta it is drawn from →

Words & music by Paul Tosh · Written at a piano · Not AI-generated