Disc 1 | ||||||
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1. |
| 4:12 | ||||
The minstrel in the gallery
Looked down upon the smiling faces. He met the gazes observed the spaces Between the old men's cackle. He brewed a song of love and hatred, Oblique suggestions and he waited. He polarized the pumpkin-eaters, Static-humming panel-beaters, Freshly day-glow'd factory cheaters (salaried and collar-scrubbing.) He titillated men-of-action Belly warming, hands still rubbing On the parts they never mention. He pacified the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating, One-line jokers, TV documentary makers (overfed and undertakers.) Sunday paper backgammon players Family-scarred and women-haters. Then he called the band down to the stage And he looked at all the friends he'd made. The minstrel in the gallery Looked down upon the smiling faces. He met the gazes observed the spaces In between the old men's cackle. He brewed a song of love and hatred, Oblique suggestions and he waited. He polarized the pumpkin-eaters, Static-humming panel-beaters, The minstrel in the gallery Looked down on the rabbit-run. And threw away his looking-glass - Saw his face in everyone. He titillated men-of-action Belly warming, hands still rubbing On the parts they never mention. (salaried and collar-scrubbing.) He pacified the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating, One-line jokers, TV documentary makers (overfed and undertakers.) Sunday paper backgammon players Family-scarred and women-haters. Then he called the band down to the stage And he looked at all the friends he'd made. The minstrel in the gallery Looked down on the rabbit-run. And threw away his looking-glass - And saw his face in everyone. The minstrel in the gallery Looked down upon the smiling faces. He met the gazes... The minstrel in the gallery |
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2. |
| 4:06 | ||||
Who would be a poor man, a beggar man, a thief
If he had a rich man in his hand And who would steal the candy From a laughing baby's mouth If he could take it from the money man Cross eyed Mary Goes jumping in again She signs no contract But she always plays the game She dines in Hamstead village On expense accounted gruel And her jacknife father Drops her off at school Laughing in the playground Gets no kicks from little boys Who'd rather make it with electric trains Or maybe her attention, is drawn by Aqualung Who watches through the railings as they play Cross eyed Mary Finds it hard to get along She's a poor man's rich girl And she'll do it for a song She's a rich man's stealer But her favor's good and strong She's the Robin Hood of Highgate Help the poor man get along Laughing in the playground Gets no kicks from little boys Who'd rather make it with electric trains Or maybe her attention, is drawn by Aqualung Who watches through the railings as they play Cross eyed Mary Goes jumping in again She signs no contract But she always plays the game She dines in Hamstead village On expense accounted gruel And jacknife father Drops her off at school Cross eyed Mary Oh Mary Oh cross eyed Mary |
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3. |
| 4:08 | ||||
My first and last time with you
And we had some fun. Went walking through the trees, yeah! And then I kissed you once. Oh I want to see you soon But I wonder how. It was a new day yesterday But it's an old day now. Spent a long time looking For a game to play. My luck should be so bad now To turn out this way. Oh I had to leave today Just when I thought I'd found you. It was a new day yesterday But it's an old day now. |
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4. |
| 3:40 | ||||
5. |
| 3:27 | ||||
Thick As A Brick
Really don't mind if you sit this one out. My words but a whisper -- your deafness a SHOUT. I may make you feel but I can't make you think. Your sperm's in the gutter -- your love's in the sink. So you ride yourselves over the fields and you make all your animal deals and your wise men don't know how it feels to be thick as a brick. And the sand-castle virtues are all swept away In the tidal destruction the moral melee. The elastic retreat rings the close of play as the last wave uncovers the newfangled way. But your new shoes are worn at the heels and your suntan does rapidly peel and your wise men don't know how it feels to be thick as a brick. And the love that I feel is so far away: I'm a bad dream that I just had today -- and you shake your head and say it's a shame. Spin me back down the years and the days of my youth. Draw the lace and black curtains and shut out the whole truth. Spin me down the long ages: let them sing the song. See there! A son is born -- and we pronounce him fit to fight. There are black-heads on his shoulders, and he pees himself in the night. We'll make a man of him put him to trade teach him to play Monopoly and not to sing in the rain. The Poet and the painter casting shadows on the water -- as the sun plays on the infantry returning from the sea. The do-er and the thinker: no allowance for the other -- as the failing light illuminates the mercenary's creed. The home fire burning: the kettle almost boiling -- but the master of the house is far away. The horses stamping -- their warm breath clouding in the sharp and frosty morning of the day. And the poet lifts his pen while the soldier sheaths his sword. And the youngest of the family Is moving with authority. Building castles by the sea, he dares the tardy tide to wash them all aside. The cattle quietly grazing at the grass down by the river where the swelling mountain water moves onward to the sea: the builder of the castles renews the age-old purpose and contemplates the milking girl whose offer is his need. The young men of the household have all gone into service and are not to be expected for a year. The innocent young master -- thoughts moving ever faster -- has formed the plan to change the man he seems. And the poet sheaths his pen while the soldier lifts his sword. And the oldest of the family Is moving with authority. Coming from across the sea, he challenges the son who puts him to the run. What do you do when the old man's gone -- do you want to be him? And your real self sings the song. Do you want to free him? No one to help you get up steam -- and the whirlpool turns you 'way off-beam. LATER. I've come down from the upper class to mend your rotten ways. My father was a man-of-power whom everyone obeyed. So come on all you criminals! I've got to put you straight just like I did with my old man -- twenty years too late. Your bread and water's going cold. Your hair is too short and neat. I'll judge you all and make damn sure that no-one judges me. You curl your toes in fun as you smile at everyone -- you meet the stares. You're unaware that your doings aren't done. And you laugh most ruthlessly as you tell us what not to be. But how are we supposed to see where we should run? I see you shuffle in the courtroom with your rings upon your fingers and your downy little sidies and your silver-buckle shoes. Playing at the hard case, you follow the example of the comic-paper idol who lets you bend the rules. So! Come on ye childhood heroes! Won't you rise up from the pages of your comic-books your super crooks and show us all the way. Well! Make your will and testament. Won't you? Join your local government. We'll have Superman for president let Robin save the day. You put your bet on number one and it comes up every time. The other kids have all backed down and they put you first in line. And so you finally ask yourself just how big you are -- and take your place in a wiser world of bigger motor cars. And you wonder who to call on. So! Where the hell was Biggles when you needed him last Saturday? And where were all the sportsmen who always pulled you though? They're all resting down in Cornwall -- writing up their memoirs for a paper-back edition of the Boy Scout Manual. LATER. See there! A man born -- and we pronounce him fit for peace. There's a load lifted from his shoulders with the discovery of his disease. We'll take the child from him put it to the test teach it to be a wise man how to fool the rest. QUOTE We will be geared to the average rather than the exceptional God is an overwhelming responsibility we walked through the maternity ward and saw 218 babies wearing nylons It says here that cats are on the upgrade upgrade? Hipgrave. Oh, Mac. LATER In the clear white circles of morning wonder, I take my place with the lord of the hills. And the blue-eyed soldiers stand slightly discoloured (in neat little rows) sporting canvas frills. With their jock-straps pinching, they slouch to attention, while queueing for sarnies at the office canteen. Saying -- how's your granny and good old Ernie: he coughed up a tenner on a premium bond win. The legends (worded in the ancient tribal hymn) lie cradled in the seagull's call. And all the promises they made are ground beneath the sadist's fall. The poet and the wise man stand behind the gun, and signal for the crack of dawn. Light the sun. Do you believe in the day? Do you? Believe in the day! The Dawn Creation of the Kings has begun. Soft Venus (lonely maiden) brings the ageless one. Do you believe in the day? Do you? Believe in the day! The fading hero has returned to the night -- and fully pregnant with the day, wise men endorse the poet's sight. Do you believe in the day? Do you? Believe in the day! Let me tell you the tales of your life of your love and the cut of the knife the tireless oppression the wisdom instilled the desire to kill or be killed. Let me sing of the losers who lie in the street as the last bus goes by. The pavements are empty: the gutters run red -- while the fool toasts his god in the sky. So come all ye young men who are building castles! Kindly state the time of the year and join your voices in a hellish chorus. Mark the precise nature of your fear. Let me help you pick up your dead as the sins of the father are fed with the blood of the fools and the thoughts of the wise and from the pan under your bed. Let me make you a present of song as the wise man breaks wind and is gone while the fool with the hour-glass is cooking his goose and the nursery rhyme winds along. So! Come all ye young men who are building castles! Kindly state the time of the year and join your voices in a hellish chorus. Mark the precise nature of your fear. See! The summer lightning casts its bolts upon you and the hour of judgement draweth near. Would you be the fool stood in his suit of armour or the wiser man who rushes clear. So! Come on ye childhood heroes! Won't your rise up from the pages of your comic-books your super-crooks and show us all the way. Well! Make your will and testament. Won't you? Join your local government. We'll have Superman for president let Robin save the day. So! Where the hell was Biggles when you needed him last Saturday? And where were all the sportsmen who always pulled you through? They're all resting down in Cornwall -- writing up their memoirs for a paper-back edition of the Boy Scout Manual. OF COURSE So you ride yourselves over the fields and you make all your animal deals and your wise men don't know how it feels to be thick as a brick. |
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6. |
| 4:33 | ||||
I'll take you down to that bright city mile,
There to powder your sweet face and paint on a smile That will show all of the pleasures and none of the pain When you join my explosion and play with my games WarChild dance the days, and dance the nights away. No unconditional surrender: no armistice day Each night I'll die in my contentment and lie by your grave While you bring me water and I give you wine Let me dance in your tea-cup and you shall swim in mine. WarChild dance the days, and dance the nights away. Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors. Let me live in your country - let me sleep by your shores WarChild dance the days, and the nights away |
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7. |
| 3:29 | ||||
8. |
| 6:09 | ||||
Flying so high, trying to remember
how many cigarettes did I bring along? When I get down I'll jump in a taxi cab driving through London town to cry you a song. It's been a long time still shaking my wings. Well, I'm a glad bird I got changes to ring. Closing my dream inside its paper-bag. Thought I saw angels but I could have been wrong. Search in my case, can't find what they're looking for Waving me through to cry you a song. It's been a long time still shaking my wings. Well I'm a glad bird I got changes to ring. Lights in the street, peeping through curtains drawn. Rattling of safety chain taking too long. The smile in your eyes was never so sweet before Came down from the skies to cry you a song. |
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9. |
| 5:39 | ||||
10. |
| 3:34 | ||||
Rise up all you fine young ladies and take arms for the show.
Oh, we'll put your name up in lights, put you down on Glory Row. Would you be the star of ages to light your own way at night? Might be a former beauty queen with your high smile stuck on so tightly. They come and they go down on Glory Row. It's the same old story --- yes, it the same old show. Well, hello all you gentlemen, I fear I'm a lot like you. We're wearing the same school tie but a different pair of shoes. How did you get to be who you are? Will your children share the blame? Is it really worth the time it takes to carve your name on Glory Row? Down on Glory Row. It's the same old story --- yes, it the same old show. |