A Passion Play (Part 2)

By Jethro Tull

On A Passion Play

Released on July 13, 1973

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[The Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles (Part 2)]


[Segment]

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!

Kangaroo were hopping mad at this sort of talk

She thought herself 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

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


[Verse]

As for all their tempting ideas, well Hare didn't a-care

The lost spectacles were his own affair

And after all, Hare did have a spare a-pairrr...

A-pairrr...


[Forest Dance No.2]


[Instrumental]


[The Foot Of Our Stairs]


[Verse 1]

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


[Chorus]

Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs


[Verse 2]

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


[Chorus]

Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs


[Verse 3]

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


[Bridge]

God of Ages, Lord of Time

Mine is the right; it's to be wrong


[Chorus]

Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs


[Bridge]

Jack Rabbit mister spawned 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


[Verse 4]

Show me the gypsy, a chain's weakest link

And I'll throw in a father to buy all he can drink

Til' he's down on his knees, as knocked in his heels

That they pass you the bottle, let's see how it feels


[Verse 5]

The rollicking hero has won all his wars

That don't live with memories, the news from his pores

That enjoy in the party and share in the fun

While the bomb in his pockets snuffs him out the sun


[Saxophone Solo]


[Outro]

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


[Overseer Overture]


[Intro]

Uhh!


[Verse 1]

Colours I've none dark or light, red, white or blue

Cold is my touch, freezing!

Summoned by name; I am the overseer over you


[Verse 2]

Given this command to watch o'er our miserable sphere

Fallen from grace, called on to bring sun or rain

Occasional corn from my oversight grew


[Verse 3]

Fell with mine angels from a far better place

Offering services for the saving of face

Now you're here, you may as well admire

All whom living has retired

From the benign reconciliation

Uhh!


[Verse 4]

Legends were born surrounding mysterious lights

Seen in the sky, flashing!

I just lit a fag then took my leave in the blink of an eye


[Instrumental]


[Verse 5]

Passionate play join round the maypole in dance

Primitive rite; wrongly

Summoned by name; I am the overseer over you


[Flight From Lucifer]


[Verse 1]

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 nor bad

I'd give up my halo for a horn and the horn for the hat I once had


[Bridge]

I'm only breathing

There's life on my ceiling

The flies there are sleeping quietly


[Verse 2]

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


[Bridge]

Time for awaking, the tea lady's making

A brew-up and baking new bread


[Instrumental]


[Verse 3]

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!


[Bridge]

I thank everybody for making me welcome

I'd stay but my wings have just dropped off


[10.08 To Paddington]


[Instrumental]


[Magus Perdé]


[Verse 1]

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


[Verse 2]

Magus Perdé, 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


[Bridge]

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


[Epilogue]


[The Silver Cord Chorus]

There was a rush along the Fulham Road

Into the Ever-passion Play