Lyrics A Passion Play - Jethro Tull

A Passion Play

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