Why dream of love, when love has died...

Staged to coincide with the IMF in September 2006, Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress ended its run yesterday.

A historical retelling of the story of China's Empress Dowager, the story is seen from the eyes of an American painter, Kate Carl, who is commissioned to paint the Empress' portrait.

The Empress recounts her amazing journey from a young imperial concubine to become the Empress of China and the pressures she faced. The musical explores the myths surrounding her reign, from the controversial death of her only son to her ambitious tussle for power.

This musical number captured my heart....

Why dream of love?

Is this what eyes were never meant to see
The end of hope and all it meant to me
How can I find the strength to carry on another day
Without my pride there’s nothing left to say
Is this the way my life was meant to be?

Too late for me to say that I was wrong
Perhaps the weak believe that they are strong
I thought that if I tried I’d find a way to earn their trust
Yet all I’ve know and loved has turned to dust
It seems there was no way I could belong

The fire that burns within your heart
The pain that tears your life apart
The rain that falls from broken skies
The love I lost beneath the lies
And must I face the truth alone?
Is this the end of all I’ve known?
The years I gave, the tears I’ve cried
Why dream of love, when love has died…

I know one day the story will be told
And in the end the secrets will be sold
And will they look at me and say I should have known the end
Perhaps I did but why should I pretend?
I only dreamed of love, and growing old…

The fire that burns within your heart
The pain that tears your life apart
The rain that falls from broken skies
The love I lost beneath the lies
And must I face the truth alone?
Is this the end of all I’ve known?
The years I gave, the tears I’ve cried
Why dream of love, when love has died…

The years I gave, the tears I’ve cried
Why dream of love, when love has died…