Lyrics Brought to Book - Van Der Graaf Generator

Brought to Book

Named, the day and date
Picked, the place and time to meet
Set, the words I uttered in stone
To right the many wrongs
That I’ve done along the way
Now the ball’s in my own court
Angels hide in the inglenook
Saints alive, I’ll be brought to book
One false move was all it took
All the wicked thoughts will be brought to book
I’m not proud of what I did before
I acknowledge all my actions nonetheless
Undiminished, the returning score
I played my part in any sins I now confess
All that’s done is done
And all that comes along the way
Lands up in the lap of the gods
One false step, one last look
Under time and tide I’ll be brought to book
I never thought I’d get to see this through
The cold documented case
One by one the arguments fall through
The past stares me in the face
Never thought I’d see it through
Here it is, the self-obsession and surrender
Here it is, it’s right in front of me
Here it is, the package gets returned to sender
Here, with interest, it comes back to me
I never thought I’d see it through
Finally wearing history naked on my face
I’ll disclose the truth of what I’ve done
Reveal the lines I’ve spun in passing
I will face up to the music
And with what breath’s left in my lungs
I’ll settle up the score and bid farewell to everyone
Time to square the circle
Time to dot the «i"s and cross the «t"s
Time to keep on working
To unspot the hand that did the deeds
To wash out the wounding
To effect a final remedy
In the last accounting
All the sum of parts in threnody
I’m not proud of who I’ve been before
I’ve no pride in what I’ve done before
Time alone holds what’s in store
I’m gathered in by hook or by crook
All in due course I’ll be brought to book