A Passion Play (Pt. II) (Pt. II|2003 Remaster) - Jethro Tull

This is the story of the hare who lost his spectacles

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

Ostensibly motionless

The hare was trembling with excitement

For without his spectacles he was 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 this 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 was 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

As for all their tempting ideas well hare didn't care

The lost spectacles were his own affair

And after all hare did have a spare a pair a pair

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

They bend at the knees

Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs

Old gentlemen talk of when they were young

Of ladies lost and erring sons

Lace covered dandies revel was friends

Pure as the truth tied at both ends

Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs

Scented cathedral spire pointed down

We pray for souls in kittenish town

A delicate hush the gods floating by

Wishing us well pie in the sky

God of ages lord of time mine is the right to be wrong

Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs

Jack rabbit mister spawn a new breed of love hungry pilgrims

Show me a good man and I'll show you the door

The last hymn is sung and the devil cries more

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

Colors I've none dark or light red white or blue

Cold is my touch freezing

Summoned by name I am the overseer over you

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

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

Legends were born surrounding mysterious lights

Seen in the sky

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

Passionate play join round the maypole in dance

Summoned by name I am the overseer over you

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 or bad

I'd give up my halo for a horn

And the horn for the hat I once had

I'm only breathing there's life on my ceiling

The flies there are sleeping quietly

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

Time for awaking the tea lady's making

A brew up and baking new bread

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

I thank everybody

For making me welcome

I'd stay but my wings have just dropped off

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

Magus Verde take your hand from off the chain

Loose a wish to still the rain the storm about to be

Here am I

Tough are the soles that tread the knife's edge

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 queening 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

There was a rush along the shameful road

Into the ever passion play