Jethro Tull – A Passion Play lyrics

A Passion Play

Do you still see me even here, the silver cord lies on the ground
"And so I'm dead," the young man said, over the hill, not a wish away
My friends, as one, all stand aligned, although their taxis came too late
There was a rush along the Fulham Road
There was a hush in the Passion Play

Such a sense of glowing in the aftermath ripe with rich attainments, all imagined
Sad misdeeds in disarray, the sore thumb screams aloud
Echoing out of the Passion Play
All the old familiar choruses come crowding in a different key
Melodies decaying in sweet dissonance
There was a rush along the Fulham Road into the ever-Passion Play

And who comes here to wish me well, a sweetly-scented angel fell
She laid her head upon my disbelief and bathed me with her ever-smile
And with a howl across the sand I go escorted by a band
Of gentlemen in leather bound - no one, but someone to be found

All along the icy wastes there are faces smiling in the gloom
Roll up, roll down, feeling unwound - step into the viewing room
The cameras were all around - we've got you taped, you're in the Play
Here's your I.D. - ideal for identifying one and all
Invest your life in the memory bank, ours the interest and we thank you
The ice-cream lady wet her drawers to see you in the Passion Play

Take the prize for instant pleasure, captain of the cricket team
Public speaking in all weathers, a knighthood from a queen
All of your best friend's telephones never cooled from the heat of your hand, from your hand
There's a line in a front-page story, thirteen horses that also ran, also ran
Climb in your old umbrella, does it have a nasty tear in the dome, in the dome
But the rain only gets in sometimes and the sun never leaves you alone
You alone, you alone, you alone, you alone, you alone

Lover of the black and white, it's your first night
The Passion Play goes all the way, spoils your insight
Tell me how the baby's made, how the lady's laid
Why the old dog howls in sadness

And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders
Of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision
The examining body examined her body

Actor of the low-high Q, let's hear your view
Peek at the lines upon your sleeves since your memory won't do
Tell me how the baby's graded, how the lady's faded
Why the old dogs howl with madness

All of this and some of that's the only way to skin the cat
And now you've lost a skin or two, well, you're for us and we for you
The dressing room is right behind - we've got you taped, you're in the Play
How does it feel to be in the Play
How does it feel to play the Play
How does it feel to be the Play

Man of passion rise again, we won't cross you out
For we do love you like a son, of that there's no doubt
Tell us is it you who are here for our good cheer
Or are we here for the glory, for the story, for the gory satisfaction
Of telling you how absolutely awful you really are

There was a rush along the Fulham Road
There was a hush in the Passion Play

This is The Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles

Owl loved to rest quietly whilst no one was watching
Sitting on a fence one day he was surprised when suddenly a kangaroo ran close by
Now, this may not seem strange, but when Owl overheard Kangaroo whisper to no one in particular
"The Hare has lost his spectacles," well, he began to wonder

Presently, the moon appeared from behind a cloud and there lying on the grass was Hare
In the stream that flowed by the grass, a Newt
And sitting astride a twig of a bush, a Bee

Ostensibly motionless, the Hare was trembling with excitement
For without his spectacles he appeared completely helpless
Where were his spectacles, could someone have stolen them
Had he mislaid them - what was he to do

Bee wanted to help and thinking he had the answer began
"You probably ate them, thinking they were a carrot."
"No!" interrupted Owl, who was wise, "I have good eye-sight, insight, and foresight
How could an intelligent Hare make such a silly mistake?"
But all the time, Owl had been sitting on the fence, scowling
A Kangaroo were hopping mad at this sort of talk
She thought herself a far superior in intelligence to the others
She was their leader, their guru, she had the answer
"Hare, you must go in search of the optician."
But then she realized that Hare were completely helpless without his spectacles
And so, Kangaroo loudly proclaimed, "I can't send Hare in search of anything!"
"You can guru, you can!" shouted Newt, "you can send him with Owl."
But Owl had gone to sleep and Newt knew too much to be stopped by so small a problem
"You can take him in your pouch."
But alas, Hare was much too big to fit into Kangaroo's pouch
All this time, it had been quite plain to Hare that the others knew nothing about spectacles

And as for all their tempting ideas, well Hare didn't care
The lost spectacles were his own affair
And after all, Hare did have a spare a-pair, a-pair

We sleep by the ever-bright hole in the door
Eat in the corner, talk to the floor
Cheating the spiders who come to say, "Please."
Politely they bend at the knees
Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs
Old gentlemen talk of when they were young
Of ladies lost, of erring sons
Lace-covered dandies revel with friends
Pure as the truth, tied at both ends
Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs
Scented cathedral, spire pointed down
We pray for souls in Kentish Town
A delicate hush, the gods floating by
Wishing us well, pie in the sky
God of Ages, Lord of Time
Mine is the right to be wrong
Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs
Jack rabbit mister spawn a new breed
Of love-hungry pilgrims, no bodies to feed
Show me a good man and I'll show you the door
The last hymn is sung and the devil cries, "More."

Well, I'm all for leaving and that being done
I've put in a request to take up my turn
In that forsaken paradise that calls itself Hell
Where no one has nothing and nothing is, well
Meaning fool, pick up thy bed and rise up from your gloom smiling
Give me your hate and do as the loving heathen do

Colors I've none, dark or light - red, white or blue
Cold is my touch freezing
Summoned by name, I am the overseer over you - overseer
Given this command to watch over our miserable sphere
Fallen from grace, called on
To bring sun or rain, occasional corn from my oversight grew - overseer
Fell with mine angels from a far better place
Offering service for the saving of face
Now you're here, you may as well admire
All whom living has retired from the benign reconciliation

Legends were born surrounding mysterious lights seen in the sky flashing
I just lit a fag and then took my leave in the blink of an eye - overseer
Overseer
Overseer

Passionate Play, join round the maypole in dance, primitive rite, wrongly
Summoned by name I am the overseer over you - overseer
Overseer

Flee the icy Lucifer, oh, he's an awful fellow
What a mistake, I didn't take a feather from his pillow
Here's the everlasting rub - neither am I good or bad
I'd give up my halo for a horn and the horn for the hat I once had
I'm only breathing, there's life on my ceiling, the flies there are sleeping quietly

Twist my right arm in the dark, I would give two or three for
One of those days that never made impressions on the old score
I would gladly be a dog barking up the wrong tree
Everyone's saved, we're in the grave - see you there for afternoon tea
Time for awaking, the tea lady's making a brew-up and baking new bread, woo

Pick me up at half past none, there's not a moment to lose
There is the train on which I came, on the platform are my old shoes
Station master rings his bell, whistles blow and flags wave
A little of what you fancy does you good, or so it should
I thank everybody for making me welcome, I'd stay but my wings have just dropped off

Hail, Son of Kings make the ever-dying sign
Cross your fingers in the sky for those about to be
There am I waiting along the sand
Cast your sweet spell upon the land and sea

Magus Perde, take your hand from off the chain
Loose a wish to still the rain, the storm about to be
Here am I voyager into life
Tough are the soles that tread the knife's edge

Break the circle, stretch the line, call upon the devil
Bring the gods the gods' own fire, in the conflict revel
The passengers upon the ferry crossing waiting to be born
Renew the pledge of life's long song, rise to the reveille horn
Animals queuing at the gate that stands upon the shore
Breathe the ever-burning fire that guards the ever-door

Man, son of man, buy the flame of ever-life
Yours to breathe and breath the pain of living, living be
Here am I, roll the stone away
From the dark into ever-day

There was a rush along the Fulham Road into the ever-Passion Play