A Passion Play (Part 1) - Jethro Tull

Lifebeats

Instrumental part

Prelude

Instrumental part

The Silver Cord

«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)

Re-Assuring Tune

Instrumental part

Memory Bank

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 wets 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

Best Friends

All of your best friends' telephones never cooled from the heat of your hand

There’s a line in a front-page story, 13 horses that also-ran

Climb in your old umbrella

Does it have a nasty tear in the dome?

But the rain only gets in sometimes and the sun never leaves you alone

Critique Oblique

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, 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

Forest Dance No.1

Instrumental part