Description
Like ‘Bartimaeus Bartimaeus’, the composition harmonizes two narratives. In this case, they are taken from the same Gospel. The texts feature a pair of blind men and describe their encounter with Christ. In both narratives: the blind men cry out for mercy and refer to Christ by his title the ‘Son of David’; have him touch their eyes before sight is restored; and are cured of their blindness immediately, rather than progressively (as in the account on which ‘Men as Trees Walking’ is based).

However, there are sufficient differences between the two accounts to suggest that they describe distinct incidents: The first takes place in the region of Galilee, and the second, after Christ had departed from Jericho; the first describes the blind men following him, and the second has them sitting by the wayside when they meet with him; the first describes them coming into a house; the second has ‘the multitude’ rebuke the blind men (as they did in the texts upon which ‘Bartimaeus Bartimaeus’ is based); in the first, Christ challenges their faith and, in the second, he asks what they want him to do for them; and in the first, Christ charges the blind men not to spread the news of their healing, after which they depart and do the very opposite and, in the second, Christ issues no warning, and they follow him.

The composition hybridizes the two texts in order to create a unity that does not exist in Scripture. Where the same phrase occurs in both, it is heard overlaid. Interspersed with the primary voice, a secondary voice – which serves as a responsive chorus – repeats the phrase ‘be opened’ throughout.

The percussive accompaniment is an amalgamation of a tone-arm being dropped onto the record’s surface, and looped, and a superimposition made up of various surface noises, that are, likewise, looped. Upon this sonic substrate, the vocal accompaniment is mapped.

Lyric
And when Jesus
departed
departed
thence
From Jericho
A great multitude
Followed him
Followed him

And, behold
From Jericho
two blind men
two blind men

And, behold
From Jericho
two blind men
two blind men

sitting by the way side
Followed him
Followed him
when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out
saying
saying
cried out
saying
saying

Have mercy on us
Have mercy on us
O Lord
thou son of David
thou son of David

Have mercy on us
Have mercy on us
O Lord
thou son of David
thou son of David

Be opened
Be opened

And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him
And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him

Be opened

but they cried the more, saying
but they cried the more

Be opened

Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David
Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David

Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David
Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David

and Jesus
and Jesus
stood still, and called them

and Jesus
and Jesus
stood still, and called them
and said
unto them

Be opened

What will ye that I shall do unto you?
What will ye that I shall do unto you?
Believe ye that I am able to do this?

They said unto him
They say unto him
Yea
Lord
Lord

They said unto him
They say unto him
Yea
Lord
Lord

Be opened

that our eyes may be opened

So Jesus had compassion on them
and
Then
touched he their eyes
touched he their eyes

Be opened

touched he their eyes
touched he their eyes

saying, According to your faith
According to your faith
be it unto you.

and immediately their
eyes
eyes
received sight
and immediately their
eyes
eyes
received sight

were opened

and they followed him.

Be opened

and they followed him.


Biblical Text
And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Biblical Reference
Matthew 9.27–31, Matthew 20.0-34.