�67
Lime and limpid green the second scene
the fights between the blue you once knew
floating down the sound resounds
around the icy waters underground
Jupiter and Saturn, Oberon there on the run
Titanian, Neptune, Titan, stars can frighten
Winding signs flap
flicker flicker flicker flam pow pow
stairways scare and death rules there
blindman limpid green the sound
surrounds the icy waters on the
lime and limpid green the sound
surrounds the icy waters underground
Lucifer Sam saw your cat
always sitting by your side
always by your side
that cat's something I can't explain
Jennifer Gentle you're the witch
you're the left side, he's the right side
oh no
that cat's something I can't explain
Wouldn't say we're going to see
me a hip cat, me a ship's cat
somewhere, anywhere
that cat's something I can't explain
The night is crawling, shifting sand
hiding around on the ground
he'll be bound when you're around
that cat's something I can't explain
There was a king who ruled the land
His Majesty was in command
with silver eyes the scarlet eagle
showered silver on the people
Oh mother tell me more
Why'd you have to leave me there
hanging in my infant chair
waiting
You only have to read the lines
They're scribbled in black and everything shines
Across the stream with wooden shoes
bells to tell the king the news
a thousand misty riders climb up
higher once upon a time
Wandering and dreaming
the words had different meanings
yes they did
For all the time spent in that view
in doll's house darkness' old perfume
and fairy-stories held me high
on clouds of sunlight floating by
Oh mother tell me more
tell me more
Alone in the clouds all blue
lying on an eiderdown
Yippie, you can't see me
but I can you
Lazing in the foggy dew
sitting on a unicorn
no fear, you can't hear me
but I can you
Watching buttercups cuff the light
sleeping on a dandelion
too much, I won't touch you
but then I might
Screaming through the scarlet sky
travelling by telephone
hey, ho here we go
ever so high.
I'm in bed, aching head
gold is red, choke I'm red
I'm the bread, gold is red
Jesus bled, pain is red
dark room
Oh no
Breeze is slow, you are slow
chill grow
feeling seems to melt the brain
seems to cause a painful brain
doctor kindly tell your wife
that I'm alive
flowers thrive
realize realize
realize
I want to tell you a story
about a little man
if I can
a gnome named Crimble Cromble
and little gnomes stay in their homes
eating sleeping drinking their wine
He wore a scarlet tunic
a blue-green hood
it looked quite good
he had a big adventure
amidst the grass
fresh air at last
wining dining biding his time
And then one day hurray
another way for the gnomes to say hurray
Look at the sky, look at the river
isn't it good
look at the sky, look at the river
isn't it good
winding finding places to go.
A movement is accomplished in six stages
and the seventh brings return
the seven is the number of the young light
it forms when darkness is increased by one
Change returns success
going and coming without error
action brings good fortune
sunset, sunrise
The time is with the month of winter solstice
when the change is due to come
thunder in the early course of heaven
things cannot be destroyed once and all for all.
The black and green scarecrow as everyone knows
stood with a bird on his hat and swore
everywhere he didn't care
he stood in a field where barley grows
His head did no thinking, his arms didn't move
except when the wind cut up and mice ran
around on the ground
he stood in a field where barley grows
The black and green scarecrow was sadder than me
but now he's resigned to his fate 'cause life's not
unkind, he doesn't mind
he stood in a field where barley grows
I've got a bike, you can ride if you like
it's got a basket, a bell that rings
and things to make it look good
I'd give it to you if I could
but I borrowed it
You're the kind of girl
that fits in with my world
I'll give you anything, everything
if you want a thing
I've got a cloak, it's a bit of a joke
there's a tear up the front, it's red and black
I've had it for months
if you think it could look good
then I guess it should
I know a mouse and he hasn't got a house
I don't know why I call him Gerald
he's getting rather old but he's a good mouse
I've got a clan of gingerbread men
here a man, there a man, lots of gingerbread men
take a couple if you wish, they're on the dish
I know a room of musical tunes
some wine, some gin, most of them are clock work
let's go into the other room and make them work
�68
Far far far away way
people heard him say say
I will find a way way
there will come a day day
something will be done
Then at last the mighty ship
descending at a point of flame
made contact with the human race at no time
Now now now is the time time
time to be be be aware
Not as far the solar bear
in human role revealed to him
a living soul of heavenward forever
Sunlight, something in my eye
something in the sky
waiting there for me
The antelope grows hurling back
the servicemen would like to sigh
the memory went flowing rounds
as Lucy in the sky
Oh oh did you ever know
no never ever will they ascend
Summoning in his cosmic powers
and flowing slightly from his toes
psychedelic nations fly
Remember a day before today
a day when you were young
renew a play along with time
evening with a thyme
Sing now a song that can't be sung
without a morning's kiss
dream you shall be it if you wish
look for your king
Why can't we play today
why can't we stay that way
Climb your fatal apple tree
try to catch the sun
hide from your little brother's gun
dream yourself away
Why can't we reach the sun
why can't we blow the years away
go away
remember remember
Little by little the night turns around
counting the leaves which tremble in the dawn
notices leaning on each other and yearning
under the leaves the swallow is resting
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
On to the mountain watching the Watcher
breaking the darkness, breaking the grapevine
the moment your flaw is run to your shadow
notice the shadow that reopens the vine
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
heart of the sun
Breaking the shape of his questions for ever
when the sun will fall in the evening
will he remember the lesson I gave him
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
heart of the sun
Corporal Clegg had a wooden leg
he won it in the war in nineteen forty four
Corporal Clegg had a medal too
in orange and in blue, he found it in the zoo
Dear oh dear, oh are they really sad for me
dear oh dear, oh will they really laugh at me
Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him
mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin
Corporal Clegg, umbrella in the rain
he's never been the same but no one is to blame
Corporal Clegg received his medal in a dream
from Her Majesty the Queen, his boots were very clean
Fairly girls were very much in love
but he doesn't mind
pickin' up his sister
makes his way to the see-saw land
all the way she smiled
she goes up while he goes down
Sits on a snake in the river
laughter in his sleeves
sister's throwing stones
hoping for a hit
he doesn't know, so there
she goes up while he goes down
Another time, another day
her brother's plain to me
another time, another day day day
She was selling plastic flowers
on a sunday afternoon
pickin' up me, she has not got the time to care
all can see, he's not there
she grows up for another man and he's down
It's awfully considerate of you to think of me here
and I'm most obliged to you for making it clear
that I'm not here
and I never knew the room could be so big
and I never knew the room could be so blue
and I'm grateful that you threw away my old shoes
and brought me here instead dressed in red
And I'm wandering who could be writing this song
I don't care if the sun don't shine
I don't care if nothing is mine
and I don't care I'm nervous with you
I'll do my loving in the winter
And the sea isn't green
and I love the queen
and what exactly is a dream
and what exactly is a joke
�69
In a churchyard by a river
lazing in the haze of midday
laughing in the grasses and the graves
Yellow bird you are not lonely
in singing and in flying on
in laughing and in leaving
Willow weeping in the water
waving to the river-daughters
swaying in the ripples and the wreaths
On a trip to Cirrus Minor
saw a crater in the sun
a thousand miles of moonlight later
I was standing by the Nile
when I saw the lady smile
I would take her out for a while, for a while
like tears that like a child
how her golden hair was blowing wild
then she spread her wings to fly, for to fly
soaring high above the breezes
going always where she pleases
She will make it to the island in the sun
I will follow her in her shadow
and I'll watch her from my window
one day I will catch her
She is calling from the deep
summoning my soul to endless sleep
she is bound to drag me down, drag me down.
We smile and smile
laughter echoes in your eyes
We climb and climb
fruit falls softly in the pines
We cry and cry
sadness passess in a while
We roll and roll
help me roll away the stone
Heavy hung the canopy of blue
shade my eyes and I can see you
white is the light that shines through the dress that you wore
She lay in the shadow of a wave
hazy were the visions overplayed
sunlight in her eyes, but moonshine made her cry every time
Green is the colour of her kind
quickness of the eye deceives the mind
envy is the bond between the hopeful and the damned
The path you tread is narrow and the trumpets sheer and very high
the ravens all are watching from a vantage point nearby
apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine
will the tight rope reach the end, will the final couplet rhyme
And it's high time, Cymbaline
please wake me
A butterfly with broken wings is falling by your side
the ravens all are closing in, there's nowhere you can hide
your manager and agent are both busy on the phone
selling coloured photographs to magazines back home
And it's high time, Cymbaline
please wake me
The lions converging where you stand,
they must have moved the picture plain
the leaves are heavy 'round your feet,
you hear the thunder of the train
suddenly it strikes you that they're moving into range
and Doctor Strange is always changing size
And it's high time, Cymbaline
please wake me
I'm so afraid of the mistakes that I made
making every time that I lay
I feel like an oddball with a cut-off mind
So if you excuse me it's time
when the count is rhymed
and the story-line is fine
I've been amazed since the first day
I can't get a line too close
take me down, take me down
from the cell of my mind
and hear me slowly floating lonely somewhere
I live far enough on a shelf like a dress
on the end of all that reads like a sad song
leaves began to grow beautiful
and years they began
and hear me slowly floating lonely
flowing down too slow
�69
Icy wind of night be gone, this is not your domain
in the sky a bird was heard to cry
misty morning whisperings and gentle stirring sounds
be like the deathly silence that lay all around
Hear the knock and hearten
to the barking of the dog fox
gone to ground
see the splashing of the kingfisher
flashing through the water
and the river of green is sliding unseen beneath the trees
laughing as it passes through the endless summer
making for the sea
In the lazy watermeadow I lay me down
all around me golden sunflakes settle on the ground
basking in the sunshine of a bygone afternoon
bringing sounds of yesterday into the city room
In the lazy watermeadow I lay me down
all around me golden sunflakes covering the ground
basking in the sunshine of a bygone afternoon
bringing sounds of yesterday into my city room.
Flowing in the path
as it leads toward the darkness in the north
weary stranger's faces show their sympathy
they've seen that home before
If you wanna stay for a little bit
rest your aching limbs for a little bit
before you can find his private room
and you can't delay
hear the nightbirds calling him
to care and catch the words to say
close by in the nightmare of your brain
Misty swelling creatures crawling
hear the roar get louder in your ears
you know the volume as you're on the force
behind can't conquer all your fears
All your birds aren't really listening
tell them there is life with every morning
perhaps today you can when you answer me
it's clear, it's all nights warning
�70
If I were the swan, I'd be gone
if I were the train, I'd be late (again)
and if I were the good man
I'd talk with you more often than I do
If I were to sleep I could dream
if I were afraid I could hide
if I go insane
please don't put your wires in my brain
If I were the moon, I'd be cool
if I were the rule, I would bend
if I were a good man
I'd understand the spaces between friends
If I were alone, I would cry
and if I were with you, I'd be home and dry
and if I go insane
will you still let me join in with the game.
Would you like to say something before you leave
perhaps you'd care to state exactly how you feel
we say goodbye before we've said hello
I hardly even like you, I shouldn't care at all
we met just six hours ago, the music was too loud
from your bed I came today and lost a bloody year
and I would like to know, how do you feel
how do you feel
Not a single word we've said, the lights stay without fears
occasionaly you showed a smile but what was the need
I felt the cold far too soon in the world of ninety-five
my friends they're in the sun, I wish that I was there
tomorrow brings another town, another girl like you
have you time before you leave to greet another man
just to let me know, how do you feel
how do you feel
Goodbye to you
shall it bring girls due
I had a love for one day
When that fat old sun in the sky is falling
summer-evening birds are calling
summer sun do you travel yet
the sound of music in my ears
distant bells, new grown grass smells so sweet
by the river holding hands
you're old enough and lay me down
And if you see, don't make a sound
pick your feet up off the ground
and if you hear as the warm night falls
the silver sound from a time so strange
sing to me, sing to me
When that fat old sun in the sky is falling
summer-evening birds are calling
children's laughter in my ears
and then the sunlight disappears.
�71
One of these days
I'm going to cut you into little pieces
The cloud of eiderdown draws around me
softening the sound
sleepy time when I lie with my love by my side
and she's breathing low, and the candle dies
When night comes down you lock the door
the look falls to the floor
as darkness falls and waves roll by
the seasons changed, the wind is warm
Now wakes the owl, now sleep the swan
behold the dream, the dream is gone
green fields, a cold rain
is falling in a golden glow
And deep beneath the ground the early morning sounds
and I go down
sleepy time when I lie with my love by my side
and she's breathing low, and I rise like a bird
in the haze when the first rays touch the sky
and the night wings die
You say the hill's too steep to climb, try it
you say you'd like to see me try climb it
you pick the place and I'll choose the time
and I'll climb the hill in my own way
just wait a while for the right day
and as I rise above the tree-line and the clouds
I look down, hearing the sounds of the things you've said today
Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
mercyless the magistrate turns round, frowning
and who's the fool who wears the crown
go down in your own way
and every day is the right day
and as you rise above the fear-lines in his crown
you look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd
You never walk alone, you never walk alone
walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
and you never walk alone, you never walk alone
As I reach for a peach, slide a ride down
behind a chauffeur in San Tropez
breaking a stick with a brick on the sand
riding a wave in the wake of an old sedan
sleeping alone in the drone of the darkness
scratched by the sand that fell from my love
keeping my dreams and I still hear her calling
if you're alone, I'll come home
Backward and homebound, a pigeon, a dove
gone with the wind, the rain on an airplane
owning a home with no silver spoon
I'm drinking champagne like a good tycoon
sooner than wait for a break in the weather
I'll gather my far-flung thoughts together
speeding away on the wind to a new day
if you're alone, I'll come home
And I pause for a while by a country style
and listen to the things they say
digging the gold in a hole in my hand
hoping the good, take a look at the way things end
and you're leading me down to a place by the sea
I hear your soft voice calling to me
making a date for Rita Pavone
if you're alone, I'll come home
I was in the kitchen
Seamus, that's the dog, was outside
well I was in the kitchen
Seamus, my own hound, was outside
well you know the sun was sinking slowly
and my own hound-dog sat right down and cried
Overhead the albatross hangs motionless upon the air
and deep beneath the rolling waves in labyrinths of coral caves
the echo of a distant time comes billowing across the sand
and everything is green, the sun beneath
and no one showed us to the land
and no one knows the where's or the why's
but something stares and something tries
and starts to climb towards the land
Strangers passing in the street by chance to separate closes meet
and I am you and what I see is me
and do I take you by the hand and lead you through the land
and help me understand the best I can
and no one calls us to the dawn
and no one forces down our eyes
and no one speaks and no one tries
no one flies around the sun
Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes
inviting and insighting me to rise
and through the window in the wall
come streaming in on sunlight wings
a million bright ambassadors of morning
and no one sings me lullabies
and no one makes me close my eyes
so I throw the windows wide
and crawl to you across the sky
�71
Arnold Layne had a strange hobby
collecting clothes, moonshine washing lines
they suit him fine
On the wall hung a tall mirror
distorted view, see through, baby blue
he got it
Oh Arnold Layne, it's not the same
it takes two to know, two to know, two to know, two to know
why can't you see
Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne
Now he's caught a nasty sort of person
they gave him time, doors bang chaingang
he hated
Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne
Arnold Layne,
Arnold Layne
don't do it again
Emily tries but misunderstands
she's often inclined to borrow
somebody's dreams till tomorrow
There is no other day
let's try it another way
you'll loose your mind and play
free games today
see Emily play
Soon after dark Emily cries
gazing through trees in sorrow
hardly a sound till tomorrow
Put on a gown that touches the ground
float on a river
for ever and ever
Emily, Emily
Last night I had too much to drink
sitting in a club with so many fools
playing to rules
trying to impress and feeling rather empty
I had another drink
What a way to spend that evening
you don't turn up with their friends
playing their game
here in the scene or it should be
far away
Getting up first without remembering
where I've been before
I open the door to an empty room
then I forget
The telephone rings and someone speaks
she would very much like to go
out to a show
so what can I do, I can't think what to say
she sees through any way
Out of the front door I go
traffic's moving rather slow
arriving late
there she waits looking very angry
as cross as she can be
Wasting my time, resting my mind
and I'll never pine for the sad days and the bad days
when we was working from nine to five
And if you don't mind
I'll spend my time here by the fireside
in the warm light of the love in her eyes
Sunlight bright upon my pillow
lighter than an eiderdown
wishing that the weeping-willow
winds its branches round
Julia dream
dream that queen
queen of all my dreams
Every night I turn the light out
waiting for the velvet bride
will the scaly armadillo
find me where I'm hiding
Will the misty master break me
will the key unlock my mind
will the following footsteps catch me
am I really dying
�72
Bridges burning gladly, melting with the shadow
flickering between the lines
stolen mormons floating softly on the air
gone on wings of fire and climbing higher
Ancient bulbs are breaking, leaving all and changing sides
dreaming of a new day, cast aside the other way
magic vision, staring, kindled by the burning flames
lies in her eyes
The door it stands a jar
it was, it once was high beyond the guilded cage
beyond the reach of time, the moment is at hand
she breaks the golden band
Come on my friend, let's make for the hills
they say there's gold and I'm looking for thrills
you can get your hands on whatever we find
'cause I've only come along for the ride
Well you go your way and I'll go mine
I don't care if we get there on time
everybody's searching for something, they say
I'll get my kicks on the way
Over the mountains, across the sea
who knows what may be waiting for me
I could sail forever to strange sounding names
faces of people and places don't change
All I have to do is just close my eyes
to see the seagulls wheeling in the far distant skies
all I wanna tell you, all I wanna say
is count me in on the journey, don't expect me to stay
Heaven sent the promised land
looks alright from where I stand
'cause I'm the man on the outside looking in
waiting on the first step
show me where the key is kept
point me down the right line 'cause it's time
To let me in from the cold, turn my lead into gold
'cause there's a chill wind blowing in my soul
and I think I'm growing old
Flash� the red is� wot's� uh deal
got to make it to the next meal
try to keep up with the turning of the wheel
mile after mile, stone after stone
you turn to speak but you're alone
million miles from home you're on your own
Fly kite by candle light
with her by my side
wish she prefers we never stir again
someone sent the promised land
well I grabbed it with both hands
now I'm the man on the inside looking out
Hear me shout, come on in
what's the news, where you've been
'cause there's no wind left in my soul and I've grown old
You shout in your sleep
that's the price, it's just too steep
is your conscience at rest
it was put to the test
you awake with a start
just the beating of your heart
just one man beneath the sky
just two ears, just two eyes
You said, sail across the sea
long past thoughts and memories
childhood's end: your fantasies
merging harsh realities
and then as the sail is hoist
you'll find your eyes are growing moist
and all the fears never voiced
say you have to make the final choice
Who are you and who am I
to say we know the reason why
some are born, some men die
beneath one infinite sky
there'll be war and there'll be peace
but anything one day will cease
all the iron turn to rust
all the proud men turn to dust
so all things time will mend
so this song will end
One two three four
The memories of a man in his old age
are the deeds of a man in his prime
you shuffle in the gloom of the sick room
and talk to yourself as you die
Life is a short warm moment
and death is a long cold rest
you get your chance to try the twinkling of an eye
eighty years with luck or even less
So all aboard for the American tour
and maybe you'll make it to the top
but mind how you go, and I can tell you 'cause I know
you may find it hard to get off
But you are the angel of death
and I am the dead man's son
he was buried like a mole in a fox-hole
and everyone's still on the run
And who is the master of foxhounds
and who says the hunt is begun
and who calls the tune in the court-room
and who beats the funeral drum
Stay and help me to end the day
and if you don't mind, we'll break a bottle of wine
stick around and maybe we'll get one down
'cause I want to find what lies behind those eyes
Midnight blue, burning gold
a yellow moon is growing cold
I rise, looking through my morning eyes
surpised to find you by my side
light my brain, don't try to remember your name
to find the words to tell you goodbye
Morning dews, newborn day
midnight blue turned to grey
midnight blue, burning gold
a yellow moon is growing cold.
�73
Breathe, breathe in the air
Don't be afraid to care
Leave but don't leave me
Look around and choose your own ground
For long you live and high you fly
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
And all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be.
Run, Run rabbit run
Dig that hole, forget the sun
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one
For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race towards an early grave.
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behing you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun,
but it's sinking
And racing around to come up behing you again
The sun is the same in the relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught
or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone the song is over
thought I'd something more to say.
Breathe (reprise)
Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home coldened and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells.
Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay and you're O.K.
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think I'll buy me a footbal team.
Money, get back
I'm alright, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack
Money, it's a hit
Don't give me that do goody good bullshit
I'm in the hi-fidelity first class travelling set
And I think I need a Lear jet.
Money, it's a crime
Share it fairly but don't take a slice of my pie
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil today
But if you ask for a rise it's no surprise that
They're giving none away, away, away
Us and them
And after all we're only ordinary men
Me and you
God only knows it's not what we would choose to do
"Forward" he cried from the rear and the front rank died
And the General sat, and the lines on the map
Moved from side to side
Black and blue
And who knows which is which and who is who
Up and Down
And in the end it's only round and round and round
Haven't you heard it's a battle of words the poster bearer cried
Listen son, said the man with the gun
There's room for you inside
Down and Out
It can't be helped but there's a lot of it about
With, without
And who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about.
Out of the way, it's a busy day
And I've got things on my mind
For want of the price of tea and a slice
The old man died.
The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path.
The lunatic is in the hall
The lunatics are in my hall
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more.
And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forbodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
The lunatic is in my head
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me 'till I'm sane.
You lock the door
And throw away the key
There's someone in my head but it's not me
And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
All that you touch
All that you see
All that you taste
All you feel
All that you love
All that you hate
All you distrust
All you save
All that you give
All that you deal
All that you buy
beg, borrow or steal
All you create
All you destroy
All that you do
All that you say
All that you eat
everyone you meet
All that you slight
everyone you fight
All that is now
All that is gone
All that's to come
and everything under the sun is in tune
but the sun is eclipsed by the moon.
�74
Oh my girl sitting in the sun
go buy candy and a current bun
I like good to see you
lay flat
Oh talk talk sweet
please just fuck with me
please no feeling afraid
It's true sun shinihg very bright
it's you I'm gonna love tonight
icecream tastes good in the afternoon
icecream tastes good if you eat it soon
Don't touch me child
please, you know you drive me wild
please, you know I'm feeling frail
Don't try another cat
don't go a lot like that you must know
I'm very very bad
Got a fliptop pack of cigarettes in the pocket
feeling good at the top shopping at shops
she's walking in the sunshine town
feeling very cool
but the butchers and the bakers
in the supermarket stores
getting everything she wants
from the supermarket store
Apples and oranges
apples and oranges
Cornering meekly she trips up sweetly
to meet the people
she's on time again
and then, I catch her by the eye
then stop and have to think
what a funny thing to do
'cause I'm feeling very thin
I love she
she loves me
see you, see you, see you
Thought you might like to know
I'm a lorrydriver man
she's on the run
down by the riverside
feeding ducks in the afternoon time
It would be so nice to leave some time
Everybody wakes and in the morning
hot tea can't stop yarning
pass the butter please
have you ever read the Daily Standard
reading all about the plane that's landed
upside down
Everyone knows what I do today
there can be no other way
but I would just like to say
Everybody cares about the weather
but everybody should know better
what a waste of time
everybody lives beneath the ceiling
living out a dream that sends them reeling
to a distant place
But no one knows what I do today
there can be no other way
but I would just like to say
In a while I'll find the time to make
The sunshine mine
In a smile I saw a single eagle in the sky
Wheeling, soaring, gliding high
On a hill there lived a man with many
Shining things
Shiny gold, shiny car and shiny diamond rings
Wining, dining, shining king
Now the eagle flies in clear blue skies
Drinking in the clear blue well
Back here on the ground another dealer
Coughs and dies
But fifty more come rolling off
The floor production line
Then a man commuting like a village
On the sand
In his hand a moving picture of
The crumbling land
Screaming, dealing, movie man
Here we go, hold your breath to see
If something blows
Close your eyes, count till ten and see
The sunrise rise
Gliding high into the sky
By the holy mansion, let the guardian rise
Upon the finger of the king
On high the eagle flies, that glitter
All of gold
Then wheeling in a cloudy sky,
He flies into the sun
All is love, is all I am
A ball is all I am
I'm so new compared to you
And I am very small
Warm glow, moon bloom
Always need a little more room
Waiting here seems like years
Never seen the light of day
All around I hear strange sounds
Come durgling in my ear
Red the light and dark the night
I feel my dawn is near
Warm glow, moon bloom
Always need a little more room
Whisper low, where I go
I will see the sunshine show
Hey Gene, this is Henry Maclean
and I finished my beautiful flying machine
and I'm ringing to say that I'm leaving and maybe
you'd like to fly with me and hide with me, baby
Isn't it strange how little we changed
isn't it sad we're insane
playing the games that we know end in tears
the games we've been playing for thousands and thousands
Point me to this cosmic flight
and throw away the plastic coloured eye
I'd like to use the static miles that we fly
this is my last summarize
Point me at the sky and let it fly
And if you survive till two thousand and five
I hope you're exceedingly thin
for if you are stout you will have to breath out
while the people around you breathe in, breathe in
People blaspheme all I say
to something that I hate to say
stooping down to eat the air
breathe careful that you might die, my friend
All we've got to say to you is goodbye
time will die in our eye
and we fly, it's goodbye
Point me at the sky and let it fly
�75
Remember when you were young
You shone like the Sun
Shine on, you crazy diamond!
Now there's a look in your eyes
Like black holes in the sky
Shine on, you crazy diamond!
You were caught on the crossfire
Of childhood and stardom
Blown on the steel breeze
Come on, you target for faraway laughter
Come on, you stranger, you legend, you martyr
And shine!
You reached for the secret too soon
You cried for the Moon.
Shine on, you crazy diamond!
Threatened by shadows at night
And exposed in the light
Shine on, you crazy diamond!
Well you wore out your welcome
With random precision
Rode on the steel breeze
Come on, you raver, you seer of visions
Come on, you painter, you piper, you prisoner
And shine!
Welcome, my son, welcome to the machine
Where have you been?
It's alright we know where have you been.
You've been in the pipeline, filling in time
Provided with toys and "Scouting for Boys"
You bought a guitar to punish your ma
And you didn't like school
And you know you're nobody's fool
So welcome to the machine
Welcome my son, welcome to the machine
What did you dream?
It's alright we told you what to dream.
You dreamed of a big star
He played mean guitar
He always ate in the Steak Bar
He loved to drive in his Jaguar
So welcome to the Machine
Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar
You're gonna go far,
You're gonna fly high, you're never gonna die,
You're gonna make it if you try
I gonna love you
Well I've always had a deep respect
And I mean that most sincerely
The band is just fantastic,
That is really what I think
Oh, by the way which one's Pink?
And did we tell you the name of the game, boy
We call it Riding the Gravy Train
We're just knocked out
We heard about the sell out
You gotta get an album out
You owe it to the people
We're so happy we can hardly count!
Everybody else is just green,
Have you seen the chart?
It's a helluva start,
It could be made into a monster
If we all pull together as a team
And did we tell you the name of the Game, boy
We call it Riding the Gravy Train
So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell
Blue skies from Pain
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell
And did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for chains?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage
How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here
Nobody knows where you are
How near or how far
Shine on, you crazy diamond!
Pile on many more layers
And I'll be joining you there
Shine on, you crazy diamond!
And we'll bask in the shadow
Of yesterday's triumph
And sail on the steel breeze
Come on, you boy child, you winner and loser
Come on, you miner for truth and delusion
And shine!
�77
If you didn't care what happened to me,
And I didn't care for you,
We would zig zag our way through the boredom and pain,
Occasionally glancing up through the rain,
Wondering which of the buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing.
You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need.
You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you're on the street,
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat
with your eyes closed.
And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight
You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking.
And after a while, you can work on points for style
Like the club tie, and the firm handshake,
A certain look in the eye and an easy smile.
You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to,
So that when they turn their backs on you
You'll get the chance to put the knife in.
You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder.
You know it's going to get harder, and harder and harder
as you get older.
And in the end you'll pack up and fly down south,
Hide your head in the sand,
Just another sad old man,
All alone and dying of cancer.
And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest
you have sown.
And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone.
And it's too late to loose the weight you used
to need to throw around.
So have a good drown, as you go down, alone,
Dragged down by the Stone.
I gotta admit that I'm a little bit confused.
Sometimes it seems to me as if I'm just being used.
Gotta stay awake, gotta try and shake off this creeping malaise.
If I don't stand my own ground,
how can I find my own way out of this maze?
Deaf, dumb and blind, you just keep on pretending
That everyone's expendable and no one has a real friend.
And it seems to you the thing to do
would be to isolate the winner.
And everything's done under the sun,
And you believe at heart, everyone's a killer.
Who was born in a house full of pain.
Who was trained not to spit in the fan.
Who was told what to do by the man.
Who was broken by trained personnel.
Who was fitted with collar and chain.
Who was given a seat in the stand.
Who was breaking away from the pack.
Who was only a stranger at home.
Who was ground down in the end.
Who was found dead on the phone
Who was dragged down by the stone.
Big man, pig man, ha ha charade you are.
You weel heeled big wheel, ha ha charade you are.
And when your hand is on your heart,
You're nearly a good laugh,
Almost a joker,
With your head down in the pig bin
Saying, "keep on digging."
Pig stain on your fat chin.
What do you hope to find?
When you're down in the pig mine
You're nearly a laugh,
You're nearly a laugh,
But you're really a cry.
Bus stop rat bag, ha ha charade you are.
You fucked up old hag, ha ha charade you are
You radiate cold shafts of broken glass.
You're nearly a good laugh,
Almost worth a quick grin
You like the feel of steel,
You're hot stuff with a hat pin,
And good fun with a hand gun.
You're nearly a laugh,
You're nearly a laugh,
But you're really a cry.
Hey you Whitehouse,
Ha ha charade you are
You house proud town mouse,
Ha ha charade you are
You're trying to keep our feelings off the street
You're nearly a real treat,
All tight lips and cold feet,
And do you feel abused?
You gotta stem the evil tide,
And keep it all on the inside.
Mary you're nearly a treat,
Mary you're nearly a treat
But you're really a cry.
Harmlessly pssing your time in the grassland away,
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You better watch out,
There may be dogs about
I've looked over Jordan, and I have seen,
Things are not what they seem.
What do you get for pretending the danger's not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors, into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem,
No, this is not bad dream.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. I SHALL NOT WANT
HE MAKES ME DOWN TO LIE
THROUGH PASTURES GREEN HE LEADETH ME THE SILENT WATERS BY.
WITH BRIGHT KNIVES HE RELEASETH MY SOUL
HE MAKETH ME TO HANG ON HOOKS IN HIGH PLACES.
HE CONVERTETH ME TO LAMB CUTLETS.
FOR LO, HE HATH GREAT POWER, AND GREAT HUNGER.
WHEN COMETH THE DAY WE LOWLY ONES
THROUGH QUIET REFLECTION, AND GREAT DEDICATION,
MASTER THE ART OF KARATE.
LO, WE SHALL RISE UP,
AND THEN WE'LL MAKE THE BUGGERS' EYES WATER.
Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.
Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you're told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.
You know that I care what happens to you,
And I know that you care for me,
So I don't feel alone.
Or the weight of the stone,
Now that I've found somewhere safe
To bury my bone.
And any fool knows a dog needs a home,
A shelter from pigs on the wing.
�79
So ya
Thought ya
Might like to go to the show
To feel the warm thrill of confusion
That space cadet glow
Tell me is something eluding you sunshine?
Is this not what you expected to see?
If you want to find out what's behind these cold eyes?
You'll just have to claw your way through the
Disguise
Mamma loves her baby
And daddy loves you too
And the sea may look warm to you, babe
And the sky may look blue
But oooh babe
Oooh baby blue
If you should go skating
On the thin ice of modern life
Dragging behind you the silent reproach
Of a million tear stained eyes
Don't be surprised, when a crack in the ice
Appears under your feet
You slip out of your depth and out of your mind
With your fear, flowing out behind you
As you claw the thin ice
Daddy's flown across the ocean
Leaving just a memory
A snap shot in the family album
Daddy what else did you leave for me
Daddy what d'ya leave behind for me
All in all it was just a brick in the wall
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall
When we grew up and went to school
There were certain teachers who would
Hurt the children anyway they could
By pouring their derisions
Upon anything we did
And exposing every weakness
However carefully hidden by the kids
But in the town it was well known
When they got home at night, their fat and
Psychopatic wives would thrash them
Within inches of their lives
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave the kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave the kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall
All in all you're just another brick in the wall
Mother do you think they'll drop the bomb
Mother do you think they'll like the song
Mother do you think they'll try to break my balls
Oooh ma
Mother should I build a wall
Mother should I run for president
Mother should I trust the government
Mother will they put me in the firing line
Oooh ma is it just a wasted time
Mother am I really dying
Hush now baby, baby don't you cry
Mama's gonna make all of your nightmares come true
Mama's gonna put all of her fears into you
Mama's gonna keep you right here under her wing
She won't let you fly but she might let you sing
Mama's gonna keep baby cosy and warm
Oooh babe Oooh babe Oooh babe
Of course mama's gonna help build the wall
Mother do you think she's good enough for me
Mother do you think she's dangerous tell me
Mother will she make your little boy a toy
Ooh mother will she break my heart
Hush now baby, baby don't you cry
Mama's gonna check out all of your girlfriends for you
Mama won't let anyone dirty get through
Mama's gonna wait up 'till you get in
Mama will always find out where you've been
Mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean
Oooh babe Oooh babe Oooh babe
You'll always be a baby to me
Mother, did it need to be so high?
Ooooooooooooooooooh
Did you see the frightened ones
Did you hear the falling bombs
Did you ever wonder
Why we had to run for shelter
When the promise of a brave new world
Unfouled beneath a clear blue sky
Ooooooooooooooooooh
Did you see the frightened ones
Did you hear the falling bombs
The flames are all long gone
But the pain lingers on
Goodbye blue sky
Goodbye blue sky
Goodbye
What shall we use to fill the empty spaces
Where waves of hunger roar
Shall we set out across this sea of faces
In search of more and more applauses
Shall we buy a new guitar
Shall we drive a more powerful car
Shall we work straight through the night
Shall we get into fights
Leave the lights on
Drop bombs
Do tours of the East
Contract diseases
Bury bones
Break up homes
Send flowers by phone
Take to drink
Go to shrinks
Give up meat
Rarely sleep
Keep people us pets
Train dogs
Race rats
Fill the attic with cash
Bury treasure
Store up leisure
But never relax at all
With our backs to the wall
What shall we use to fill the empty
Spaces where we used to talk
How should I fill the final places?
How should I complete the wall?
I am just a new boy
A stranger in this town
Where are all the good times
Who's gonna show this stranger around?
Ooh I need a dirty woman
Ooh I need a dirty girl
Will some woman in this desert town
Make me feel like a real man
Take this rock'n'roll refugee
Ooh Babe set me free
Ooh I need a dirty woman
Ooh I need a dirty girl
Day after day, love turns grey
Like the skin of a dying man
And night after night we pretend it's all right
But I have grown older and
You have grown colder and
Nothing is very much fun any more.
And I can feel one of my turns coming on.
I feel cold as a razor blade
Tight as a tourniquet
Dry as a funeral drum
Run to the bedroom, in the suitcase on the left
You'll find my favourite axe
Don't look so frightened
This is just a passing phase
Just one of my bad days
Would you like to watch T.V.?
Or get between the sheets
Or contemplate the silent freeway?
Would you like something to eat?
Would you like to learn to fly? Would you?
Would you like to see me try?
Oh I don't know
Would you like to call the cops?
Do you think it's time I stopped?
Why are you running away?
Oooh Babe
Don't leave me now
Don't say it's the end of the road
Remember the flowers I sent
I need you Babe
To put through the shredder
In front of my friends
Ooh Babe
Don't leave me now
How could you go?
When you know how I need you
To beat to a pulp on a Saturday night
Ooh Babe
Don't leave me now
How can you treat me this way
Running away
Ooh Babe
Why are you running away?
Oooh Babe!
I don't need no arms around me
And I don't need no drugs to calm me
I have seen the writing on the wall
Don't think I need anything at all
No, don't think I'll need anything at all
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall
All in all you were all just bricks in the wall
Goodbye cruel world
I'm leaving you today
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye all you people
There's nothing you can say
To make me change my mind
Goodbye
Hey you! out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me?
Hey you! standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles, can you feel me?
Hey you! don't help them to bury the light
Don't give in without a fight.
Hey you! out there on your own
Sitting naked by the phone, would you touch me?
Hey you! with your ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out, would you touch me?
Hey you! would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home
But it was only fantasy
The Wall was too high, as you can see
No matter how he tried he could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain.
Hey you! out there on the road
Always doing what you're told, can you help me?
Hey you! out there beyond the wall
Breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me?
Hey you! don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall
Is there anybody out there?
I've got a little black book with my poems in
Got a bag with toothbrush and a comb in
When I'm a good dog they sometimes throw me a bone in
I got elastic bands keeping my shoes on
Got those swollen hand blues
I've got 13 channels of shit on the T.V. to choose from
I've got electric light
And I've got second sight
I've got amazing powers of observation
And that is how I know
When I try to get through
On the telephone to you
There'll be nobody home
I've got the obligatory Hendrix Perm
And the inevitable pinhole burns
All down the front of my favourite satin shirt
I've got nicotine stains on my fingers
I've got a silver spoon on a chain
Got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains
I've got wild staring eyes
And I've got a strong urge to fly
But I've got nowhere to fly to
Ooh Babe when I pick up the phone
There's still nobody home
I've got a pair of Gohills boots
And I've got fading roots�
Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn
Remember how she said that
We would meet again
Some sunny day
Vera! Vera!
What have become of you
Does anybody else in here
Feel the way I do?
Bring the boys back home
Bring the boys back home
Don't leave the children on their own
Bring the boys back home
Hello,
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone at home
Come on now,
I hear you're feeling down
I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
Relax,
I'll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain, you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numb
Just a little pin prick
There'll be no more aaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up?
I do, believe it's working, good
That 'll keep you going through the show
Come on, it's time to go.
There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I have become comfortably numb
Ooh Ma ooh Pa
Must the show go on
Ooh Pa take me home
Ooh Ma let me go
Do I have to stand up
Wild eyed in the spotlight
What a nightmare Why?
Don't I turn and run
There must be some mistake
I didn't mean to let them
Take away my soul
Am I too old is it too late
Ooh Ma Ooh Pa
Where has the feeling gone?
Ooh Ma Ooh Pa
Will I remember the songs?
The show must go on.
So ya
Thought ya
Might like to go to the show
To feel the warm thrill of confusion
That space cadet glow
I've got some bad news for you sunshine
Pink isn't well he stayed back at the hotel
And they sent us along as a surrogate band
And we're going to find out where you fans
Really stand
Are there any queers in the theatre tonight
Get'em up against the wall
There's one in the spotlight
He don't look right to me
Get him up against the wall
And that one looks Jewish
And that one's a coon
Who let all this riff-raff into the room
There's one smoking a joint
And another with spots
If I had my way
I'd have all of you shot
You better make your face up in
Your favourite disguise
With your button down lips
And your roller blind eyes
With your empty smile
And your hungry heart
Feel the bile rising from your guilty past
With your nerves in tatters
As the cockle shell shatters
And the hammers butter
Down your door
You better run
You better run all day
And run all night
And keep your dirty feelings
Deep inside. And if you
Take your girlfriend
Out tonight,
You better park the car
Well out of sight
'cos if they catch you in the back seat
Trying to pick her locks
They're gonna send you back to mother
In a card board box
You better run.
Ooh You cannot reach me now
Ooh No matter how you try
Goodbye cruel world it's over
Walk on by
Sitting in a bunker here behind my wall
Waiting for the worms to come
In perfect isolation here behind my wall
Waiting for the worms to come
Waiting to cut out the deadwood
to clean up the city
to follow the worms
to put on a blackshirt
to weed out the weaklings
to smash in their windows
and kick in their doors.
for the final solution
to strenghten the strain
to follow the worms
to turn on the showers
and fire the ovens
for the queens and the coons
and the reds and the Jews
to follow the worms
Would you like to see Britania
Rule again, my friend?
All you have to do is follow the worms
Would you like to send our coloured cousins
Home again, my friend?
All you need to do is follow the worms.
Stop
I wanna go home
Take off this uniform
And leave the show
And I'm waiting in this cell
Because I have to know
Have I been guilty all this time.
Good morning Worm Your Honour
The crown will plainly show
The prisoner who now stands before you
Was caught red handed showing feelings
Showing feelings of an almost human nature
This will not do
Call the schoolmaster
I always said he'd come to no good
In the end Your Honour
If they'd let me have my way I could
Have flayed him into shape
But my hands were tied
The bleeding hearts and artists
Let him get away with murder
Let me hammer him today
Crazy, toys in the attic I am crazy
Should I go fishing
They must have taken my marbles away
You little shit, you're in it now
I hope they throw away the key
You should have talked to me more often
Than you did, but no you had to
Go your own away. Have you broken any
Homes up lately?
"Just five minutes, Worm Your Honour
Him and me alone"
Babe
Come to mother baby let me hold you
In my arms
M'lud I never wanted him to
Get in any trouble
Why'd he ever have to leave me
Worm Your Honour let me take him home
Crazy, over the rainbow I am crazy
Bars in the window
There must have been a door there in the wall
When I came in
Crazy over the rainbow he is crazy
The evidence before the court is
Incontravertable, there's no need for
The jury to retire
In all my years of judging
I have never heard before
Of someone more deserving
The full penalty of law
The way you made them suffer
Your exquisite wife and mother
Fills me with the urge to defecate
But my friend you have revealed your
Deepest fear
I sentance you to be exposed before
Your peers
Tear down The Wall!
All alone, or in twos
The ones who really love you
Walk up and down outside the wall
Some hand in hand
Some gathered together in bands
The bleeding hearts and the artists
Make their stand
And when they've given you their all
Some stagger and fall after all it's not easy
Banging your heart against some mad buggers [1]
Wall
�83
Tell me true tell me why was jesus crucified
Is it for this that daddy died?
Was it for you? was it me?
Did i watch too much t.v.?
Is that a hint of accusation in your eyes?
If it wasn't for the nips
Being so good at building ships
The yards would still be open on the clyde
And it can't be much fun for them
Beneath the rising sun
With all their kids committing suicide
What have we done maggie what have we done
What have we done to england
Should we shout should we scream
"What happened to the post war dream?"
Oh maggie maggie what have we done?
They flutter behind you your possible pasts
Some brighteyed and crazy some frightened and lost
A warning to anyone still in command
Of their possible future to take care
In derelict sidings the poppies entwine
With cattle trucks lying in wait for the next time
Do you remember me? how we used to be?
Do you think we should be closer?
She stood in the doorway the ghost of a smile
Haunting her face like a cheap hotel sign
Her cold eyes imploring the men in their macs
For the gold in their bags or the knives in their backs
Stepping up boldly one put out his hand
He said, "i was just a child then, now i'm only a man"
Do you remember me? how we used to be?
Do you think we should be closer?
By the cold and religious we were taken in hand
Shown how to feel good and told to feel bad
Tongue tied and terrified we learned how to pray
Now our feelings run deep and cold as the clay
And strung out behind us the banners and flags
Of our possible pasts lie in tatters and rags
Do you remember me? how we used to be?
Do you think we should be closer?
When you're one of the few to land on your feet
What do you do to make ends meet?
Teach
Make them mad, make them sad, make them add two and two
Make them me, make them you, make them do what you want them to
Make them laugh, make them cry, make them lay down and die
Jesus jesus what's it all about
Trying to clout these little ingrates into shape
When i was their age all the lights went out
There was no time to whine and mope about
And even now part of me flies over
Dresden at angels one five
Though they'll never fathom it behind my
Sarcasm desperate memories lie
Sweetheart sweetheart are you fast asleep,
Good
'Cos that's the only time that i can really speak to you
And there is something that i've locked away
A memory that is too painful
To withstand the light of day
When we came back from the war the banners and
Flags hung on everyone's door
We danced and we sang in the street and
The church bells rang
But burning in my heart
My memory smoulders on
Of the gunners dying words on the intercom
Floating down through the clouds
Memories come rushing up to meet me now
But in the space between the heavens
And the corner of some foreign field
I had a dream
I had a dream
Goodbye max
Goodbye ma
After the service when you're walking slowly to the car
And the silver in her hair shines in the cold november air
You hear the tolling bell
And touch the silk in your lapel
And as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the Band
You take her frail hand
And hold on to the dream
A place to stay
Enough to eat
Somewhere old heroes shuffle safely down the street
Where you can speak out loud
About your doubts and fears
And what's more no-one ever disappears
You never hear their standard issue kicking in your door
You can relax on both sides of the tracks
And maniacs don't blow holes in bandsmen by remote control
And everyone has recourse to the law
And no-one kills the children any more
And no-one kills the children any more
Night after night
Going round and round my brain
His dream is driving me insane
In the corner of some foreign field
The gunner sleeps tonight
What's done is done
We cannot just write off his final scene
Take heed of his dream
Take heed
Button your lip and don't let the shield slip
Take a fresh grip on your bullet proof mask
And if they try to break down your disguise with their questions
You can hide hide hide
Behind paranoid eyes
You put on your brave face and slip over the road for a jar
Fixing your grin as you casually lean on the bar
Laughing too loud at the rest of the world
With the boys in the crowd
You can hide hide hide
Behind petrified eyes
You believed in their stories of fame fortune and glory
Now you're lost in a haze of alcohol soft middle-age
The pie in the sky turned out to be miles too high
And you hide hide hide
Behind brown and mild eyes
Brezhnev took afghanistan
Begin took beirut
Galtieri took the union jack
And maggie over lunch one day
Took a cruiser with all hands
Apparently to make him give it back
Take all your overgrown infants away somewhere
And build them a home a little place of their own
The fletcher memorial
Home for incurable tyrants and kings
And they can appear to themselves every day
On closed circuit t.v.
To make sure they're still real
It's the only connection they feel
"ladies and gentlemen, please welcome reagan and haig
Mr. begin and friend mrs. thatcher and paisley
Mr. brezhnev and party
The ghost of mccarthy
The memories of nixon
And now adding colour a group of anonymous latin-american
Meat packing glitterati"
Did they expect us to treat them with any respect
They can polish their medals and sharpen their smiles
And amuse themselves playing games for a while
Boom boom, bang bang, lie down you're dead
Safe in the permanent gaze of a cold glass eye
With their favourite toys
They'll be good girls and boys
In the fletcher memorial home for colonial
Wasters of life and limb
Is everyone in?
Are you having a nice time?
Now the final solution can be applied
They disembarked in 45
And no one spoke and no one smiled
There were too many spaces in the line
Gathered at the cenotaph
All agreed with hand on heart
To sheath the sacrificial knifes
But now
She stands upon southampton dock
With her handkerchief
And her summer frock clings
To her wet body in the rain
In quiet desperation knuckles
White upon the slippery reins
She bravely waves the boys goodbye again
And still the dark stain spreads between
Their shoulder blades
A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves
And when the fight was over
We spent what they had made
But in the bottom of our hearts
We felt the final cut
Through the fish eyed lens of tear stained eyes
I can barely define the shape of this moment in time
And far from flying high in clear blue skies
I'm spiralling down to the hole in the ground where i hide
If you negotiate the minefield in the drive
And beat the dogs and cheat the cold electronic eyes
And if you make it past the shotguns in the hall
Dial the combination, open the priesthole
And if i'm in i'll tell you what's behind the wall
There's a kid who had a big hallucination
Making love to girls in magazines
He wonders if you're sleeping with your new found faith
Could anybody love him
Or is it just a crazy dream
And if i show you my dark side
Will you still hold me tonight
And if i open my heart to you
And show you my weak side
What would you do
Would you sell your story to rolling stone
Would you take the children away
And leave me alone
And smile in reassurance
As you whisper down the phone
Would you send me packing
Or would you take me home
Thought i had to bare my naked feelings
Thought i had to tear the curtain down
I held the blade in trembling hands
Prepared to make it but just then the phone rang
I never had the nerve to make the final cut
Fuck all that we've got to get on with these
Got to compete with the wily japanese
There's too many home fires burning
And not enough trees
So fuck all that
We've got to get on with these
Can't stop lose job mind gone silicon
What bomb get away pay day make hay
Break down need fix big six
Clickity click hold on oh no
Brrrrrrrrrring bingo!
Make em laugh make em cry make em dance in the aisles
Make em pay make em stay make em feel o.k.
Not nah john
We've got to get on with the film show
Hollywood waits at the end of the rainbow
Who cares what it's about
As long as the kids go
So not now john
We've got to get on with the show
Hang on john
I've got to get on with this
I don't know what it is
But it fits on here like�
Come at the end of the shift
We'll go and get pissed
But now now john
I've got to get on with this
Hold on john
I think there's something good on
I used to read books but�
It could be the news
Or some other abuse
Or it could be reusable shows
Fuck all that we've got to get on with these
Got to compete with the wily japanese
No need to worry about the vietnamese
Got to bring the russian bear to his knees
Well, may be not the russian bear
May be the swedes
We showed argentina
Not let's go and show these
Make us feel tough
And wouldn't maggie be pleased
Nah nah nah nah nah nah!
S'cusi dove il bar
Se para collo pou eine toe bar
S'il vous plait ou est le bar
Oi'where's the fucking bar john!
In my rear view mirror the sun is going down
Sinking behind bridges in the road
And i think of all the good things
That we have left undone
And i suffer premonitions
Confirm suspicions
Of the holocaust to come
The rusting wire that holds the cork
That keeps the anger in
Gives way
And suddenly it's day again
The sun is in the east
Even though the day is done
Two suns in the sunset
Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Could be the human race is run
Like the moment when the brakes lock
And you slide towards the big truck
You stretch the frozen moments with your fear
And you'll never hear their voices
And you'll never see their faces
You have no recourse to the law anymore
And as the windshield melts
My tears evaporate
Leaving only charcoal to defend
Finally i understand
The feelings of the few
Ashes and diamonds
Foe and friend
We were all equal in the end
�87
Into the distance, ribbon of black,
stretched to the point of no turning back.
A flight of fancy on a wind swept field,
standing alone my senses reeled.
A fatal attraction holding me fast, how
can I escape this irresistible grasp?
Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky,
tongue-tied & twisted just an eath-bound misfit.i.
Ice is forming on the tips of my wings,
unheeded warnings.
I thought,I thought of everything,
no navigator to guide my way home.
Unladened.Empty and turned to stone.
A soul in tension that's learning to fly.
Condition grounded but determined to try.
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies.
Tongue-tied & twisted just an eath-bound misfit.i.
Above the planet on a wing and a prayer,
my grubby halo, a vapor trail in the empty air,
across the clouds I see my shadow fly,
out of the corner of my watering eye.
A dream unthreatened by the morning light.
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night.
There's no sensation to compare with this,
suspended animation, a state of bliss.
Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky.
Tongue-tied & twisted just an eath-bound misfit.i.
Dogs of war and men of hate
with no cause, we don't discriminate.
Discovery is to be disowned
our currency is flesh and bone
hell opened up and put on sale
gather round and haggle
for hard catch, we will lie and deceive
even our masters don't know the webs we weave.
One world, it's a battleground,
one world, and we will smash it down,
one world� one world.
Invisible transfers, long distance calls,
hollow laughter in marble halls.
Steps have been taken, a silent uproar
has unleashed the dogs of war.
You can't stop what has begun,
signed, sealed, they deliver oblivion.
We all have a dark side, to say the least
and dealing in death is the nature of the beast.
one world, and they smash it down,
one world� one world.
The dogs of war don't negotiate.
The dogs of war won't capitulate,
they will take and you will give,
and you must die so that they may live.
You can knock at any door,
but wherever you go, you know they've been there,
before.
Well winners can lose and things can get strained,
but whatever you change, you know the dogs remain.
One world,it's a battleground,
one world are we going to smash it down?
One world� one world.
A restless eye across a wary room,
a glazed look and I was on the road to ruin.
The music played and played as we whirled without end
no hint, no word her honor to defend.
I will, I will she sighted to my request
And then she tossed her mane while my resolve was put,
to the test.
Then drowned in desire, our souls on fire.
I led the way to the funeral pyre,
and without thought of the consequence
I gave in to my decadence.
One slip, and down the hole we fall,
it seems to take no time at all.
A momentary lapse of reason.
That binds a life for life,
a small regret, you won't forget,
there'll be no sleep in here tonight.
Was it love, or was it the idea of being in love?
Or was in the hand of fate, that seemed to fit just,
like a glove?
The moment slipped by and soon the seeds were sown.
The year grew late and neither one wanted to remain,
alone.
One slip, and down the hole we fall,
it seems to take no time at all.
A momentary lapse of reason.
That binds a life to a life.
The one regret, you will never forget,
there'll be no sleep in here tonight.
One sleep� One sleep
On the turning away,
from the pale and downtrodden.
And words they say
which we won't understand.
"Don't accept that what's happening.
Is just a case of other suffering.
Or you'll find that you're joining in
the turning away".
It's a sin that somehow,
light is changing to shadow.
And casting it's shroud
over all we have known
unaware how the ranks have grown.
Driven on by heart of stone,
we could find that we're all alone
in the dream of the proud.
On the wings of the night,
as the daytime is stirring
where the speechless unite.
In a silent accord,
using words you will find are strange.
And mesmerized as they light the flame
feel the new wind of change,
on the wings of the night.
No more turning away,
from the weak and the weary.
No more turning away,
from the coldness inside.
Just a world that we all must share.
It's not enough just to stand and stare.
Is it only a dream that there'll be,
no more turning away?
One sound, one single sound.
One kiss, one single kiss,
a face outside the window pane,
however did it come to this?
A man who ran: A child who cried,
a girl who heard, a voice that lied.
The sun that burned a fiery red.
The vision of an empty bed.
The use of force, he was so touch.
She'll soon submit, she's had enough.
The march of fate, the broken will,
someone is lying very still.
He has laughed and he has cried,
he has fought and he has died.
He's just the same as all the rest,
he's not the worst, he's not the best.
And still this gazelles murmuring,
the babbling that I brook,
the seas of faces, eyes upraised,
the empty screen, the vacant look.
A man in black on a snow white horse,
a pointless life has run it's course,
the red rimmed eyes, the tears still run.
As the fades into the setting sun.
I have always been here,
I have always looked out from behind these eyes.
It feels like more than a lifetime,
feels like more than a lifetime.
Sometimes I get tired of the waiting,
sometimes I get tired of being in here.
Is this the way it has always been?
Could it ever have been different?
Do you ever get tired of the waiting?
Do you ever get tired of being in there?
Don't worry, nobody lives forever,
nobody lives forever.
I will always be here,
I will always look out from behind these eyes.
It's only a lifetime,
it's only a lifetime,
it's only a lifetime.
The sweet smell of great sorrow lies over the land.
Plumes of smoke rise and merge into the leaden sky:
a man lies and dreams of green fields and rivers,
but awakes to a morning with no reason for waking.
He's haunted by the memory of a lost paradise
in his youth or a dream, he can't be precise,
he's chained forever to a world that's departed,
it's not enough,it's not enough.
His blood has frozen & curdled with fright,
his knees have trembled & given way in the night,
his hand has weakened at the moment of truth,
his step has faltered.
One world, one soul,
time pass, the river roll.
And he talks to the river of lost love and dedication,
and silent replies that swirl invitation.
Flow dark and troubled to an oily sea,
a grim intimation of what is to be.
There's an unceasing wind that blows through this night.
And there's dust in my eyes, that blinds my sight,
and silence that speaks so much louder than words,
of promises broken.
�94
As you look around this room tonight
Settle in your seat and dim the lights
Do you want my blood, do you want my tears
What do you want
What do you want from me
Should I sing until I can't sing any more
Play these things until my fingers are raw
You're so hard to please
What do you want from me
Do you think that I know something you don't know
What do you want from me
If I don't promise you the answers would you go
What do you want from me
Should I stand out in the rain
Do you want me to make a daisy chain for you
I'm not the one you need
What do you want from me
You can have anything you want
You can drift, you can dream, even walk on water
Anything you want
You can own everything you see
Sell your soul for complete control
Is that really what you need
You can lose yourself this night
See inside there is nothing to hide
Turn and face the light
What do you want from me
Did you know� It was all going to go so wrong for you
And did you see it was going to be so right for me
Why did we tell you then
You were always the golden boy then
And that you'd never lose that light in your eyes
Hey you� did you ever realise what you'd become
And did you see that it wasn't only me you were running from
Did you know all the time but it never bothered you anyway
Leading the blind while stared out the steel in your eyes
The rain fell slow, down on the roofs of uncertainty
I thought of you and the years and all the sadness fell away from me
And did you know�
I never thought that you'd lose that light in your eyes
Cover design Storm Thorgerson
Sculptures by Aden Hynes�
On the day the wall came down
They threw the locks onto the ground
And with glasses high we raised a cry for freedom had arrived
On the way the wall came down
The Ship of Fools had finally run aground
Promises lit up the night like paper doves in flight
I dreamed you had left my side
No warms, not even pride remained
And even though you needed me
It was clear that I could not do a thing for you
Now life devalues day by day
As friends and neighbours turn away
And there's a change, that even with regreat, cannot be undone
Now frontiers shift like desert sands
While nations wash their bloodied hands
Of loyalty, of history, in shades of grey
I woke to the sound of drums
The music played, the morning sun streamed in
I turned and I looked at you
And all but the bitter residue slipped away� slipped away
From morning to night I stayed out of sight
Didn't recognize I'd become
No more than alive I'd barely survive
In a word� overrun
Won't hear a sound
From my mouth
I've spent too long
On the inside out
My skin is cold
To the human touch
This bleeding heart's
Not beating much
I murmured a vow of silence and now
I don't even hear when I think aloud
Extinguished by light I turn on the night
Wear its darknes with an empty smile
I'm creeping back to life
My nervous system all awry
I'm wearing the inside out
Look at him now
He's paler somehow
But he's coming round
He's starting to choke
It's been so long since he spoke
Well he can have the words right from my mouth
And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again
I'm holding out
For the day
When all the clouds
Have blown away
I'm with you now
Can speak your name
Now we can hear ourselves again
He's curled into the corner
But still the screen is flickering
With an endless stream of garbage to curse the plase
In a sea of random images
The self destricting animal
Waiting for the waves to break
He's standing on the threshold
Caught in fiery anger
And hurled into the furnace he'll curse the place
He's torn in all directions
And still the screen is flickering
Waiting for the flames to break
Her love rains down on me easy as the breeze
I listen to her breathing it sounds like the waves on the sea
I was thinking all about her, burning with rage and desire
We were spinning into darkness; the earth was on fire
She could take it back, she might take it back some day
So I spy on her, I lie to her, I make promises I cannot keep
Then I hear her laughter rising, rising from the deep
And I make her prove her love for me, I take all that I can take
And I push her to the limit to see if she will break
She might take it back, she could take it back some day
Now I have seen the warnings, screaming from all sides
It's easy to ignore them and G-d knows I 've tried
All of this temptation, it turned my faith to lies
Until I couldn't see the danger or hear the rising tide
She can take it back, she will take it back some day (3 times)
Where were you when I was burned and broken
While the days slipped by from my window watching
Where were you when I was hurt and I was helpless
Because the things you say and the things you do surround me
While you were hanging yourself on someone else's words
Dying to believe in what you heard
I was staring straight into the shinning sun
Lost in thought and lost in time
While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted
Outside the rain fell dark and slow
What I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime
I took a heavenly ride through our silence
I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life
I took a heavenly ride through our silence
I knew the waiting has begun
And headed straight� into the shining sun
For millions of years mankind lived just like animals
Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination
We learned to talk
There's a silence surrounding me
I can't seem to think straight
I'll sit in the corner
No one can bother me
I think I should speak now
I cant seem to speak now
My words won't come out right
I feel like I'm drowning
I'm feeling weak now
But I can't show my weakness
I sometimes wonder
Where do we go from here
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
What are you feeling
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
What are you feeling
It doesn't have to be like this
All we need to do is make sure we keep talking
It doesn't have to be like this
All we need to do is make sure we keep talking
I feel like I'm drowning
You know I can't breathe now
We're going nowhere
We're going nowhere
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
What are you feeling
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
Where do we go from here
I was spending my time in the doldrums
I was caught in a cauldron of hate
I felt persecuted and paralysed
I thought that everything else would just wait
While you are wasting your time on your enemies
Engulfed in a fever of spite
Beyong your tunnel vision reality fades
Like shadowes into the night
To martyr yourself to caution
Is not going to help at all
Because there'll be no safety in numbers
When the Right One walks out of the door
Can you see your days blighted by darkness?
Is it true you beat your fists on the floor?
Stuck in a world of isolation
While the ivy grows over the door
So I open my door to my enemies
And I ask could we wipe the slate clean
But they tell me do please go fuck myself
You know you just can't win
Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun
Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by Cut
There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay
The grass was greener
The light was brighter
With friends surrounded
The nights of wonder
Looking beyong the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some inner tide
At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world
Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to be horizon
Though down this road we've been so many times
The grass was greener
The light was brighter
The taste was sweeter
The nights of wonder
With friends surrounded
The dawn mist glowing
The water flowing
The endless river
Forever and ever
[1]The final cut a requiem for the post war dream by Roger Waters