Galileo Betrayed by Inquisition


“How Do I Go On from Here?” from Aristotle’s Prayer

by Gary Powell

There are different genres of betrayal, to use a musical term. By definition, betrayals are compromises of our trust either by greed or passion. However, there are worse betrayals.

The source of these betrayals is always detectable in psychology, but how do we divine the source and prevent it from happening again? More important, how do we recognize any responsibility we may have in it?

There are those secret-life betrayals which cause offense outside of all acknowledged agreements or honored traditions. A Herculean effort must be mounted just to go forward after this kind of disconsolate discovery. These are the private betrayals, but the public betrayals can be more injurious yet.

There is also the betrayal served to us at the secret discretion of the institution, the corporation or… wherever large groups of individuals with, what Austin therapist Amy Person calls “lost voices”, gather. All manner of atrocities have been perpetrated on humanity in the name of “US”, at the price of “ME”. This is the slow-burn betrayal which can unknowingly obstruct our productive and passionate contributions to this world for an entire lifetime.

All these different shades of betrayal are common and experienced by nearly everyone.

On the other hand, we are seldom aware when our APTITUDE or our POSSIBILITIES have been hijacked!

Slavery, certainly, is the blackest of all betrayals as it extinguishes our corporal, natural, inherited, learned and earned humanity. Common slavery is easily identified. However, how do we know when our very “personal intellect” itself has been misappropriated or conscripted into service? This idea of “personal intellect” lives at the core of Galileo’s wonderful gift, which unfortunately existed during an unenlightened time in a place where the keepers of “lost voices” held court.

Galileo Galilei knows betrayal. Under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church Inquisition Court, Galileo, one of the greatest minds ever produced by humanity, was sentenced to life in prison for THINKING. Actually, he was way past just thinking. His thoughts were not idle musings. They were scientifically PROVEN, yet a small-minded institution stripped him of his intellectual voice and every other expression of freedom.

In the show, Aristotle’s Prayer, Galileo’s grief is presented in the song, “How Do I Go On from Here?”, and was written from this intellectual giant’s very public perspective of his own betrayal. It immediately follows the song of his trial, “The Boys in Red”. It’s not a dead, historical betrayal with no meaning or feeling. It is a betrayal which we each may share with Galileo, but have yet to feel the knife.

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How Do I Go On From Here?

Words and Music by Gary Powell

Verse 1
You see the same stars I see
But not the same truth I plea
You’ ve known of loss like I’ve known
You’ve known a love of your own

Yet darkness still here is wed
To cloaked souls hiding in red
That heart of yours won’t awaken
A heart that’s been forsaken

With the shadow of you near
How do I go on from here?

Verse 2
You’ve stolen the stellar skies
Illumination dies
The stars above won’t be shining
The clouds, no silver lining

Illusion here knows no bounds
Betrayal here makes no sounds
Employed at your discretion
Now mine by your deception

In the shadow of your fear
How do I go on from here?

Bridge
So take whater’ you will
And know that you won’t still
Be half of what a soul is meant to be

For I won’t soon forget
My sorrow when we met
When callowness and darkness
Reigned supreme

You are so blind
My heart and mind and my vision
Despoiled here by your derision

Verse 3
We dance the same waltz but you lead
Where knowledge and breadth concede
On grounds of your apparition
Show cause now for my submission

In the shadow of your fear
How do I go on?
How do I go on?
How do I go on from here?

(Copyright 2005 Jesmax Music, BMI)

4 thoughts on “

Galileo Betrayed by Inquisition


“How Do I Go On from Here?” from Aristotle’s Prayer
  1. Wow, nicely said. I like you delineating the interpretation of this piece, makes it more powerful as a piece of music.

  2. Serendipitously striking; I can identify strongly with “lost voices”. A new strength seems always to come…

  3. Three women of similar sensitivities and none of you have ever met. I’m glad to have such individuals as you in my life. Thank you for your support and comments. — Gary

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