Jethro Tull - A Passion Play - Pt.I

[Act 1: Ronnie Pilgrim's Funeral — a winter's morning in the cemetery]

　A. Lifebeats (Instrumental)

　B. Prelude (Instrumental)

　C. 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

　D. Re-Assuring Tune (Instrumental)



[Act 2: The Memory Bank — a small but comfortable theatre with a cinema-screen (the next morning)]

　A. 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

　B. Best Friends

All of your best friends' telephones
Never cooled from the heat of your hand
From your hand
There's a line in a front-page story
13 horses that also ran
Also ran

Climb in your old umbrella
Does it have a nasty tear in the dome?
Inna' 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

　C. 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

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
Why the lady's faded
Why the old dogs howl with madness
How the lady's laid
Why the old dog howls in sadness

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

　D. Forest Dance #1

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



[Interlude: The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles]

This is the story of the hare who lost his spectacles! *sniff*

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