text9

Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

Procol's Ninth

1975

Pandora's Box

Fool's Gold

I was trying hard to win
save the world and be the king
I was out there in the race
trying hard to force the pace
Fool's gold fooled me too
bright and shiny looked brand new
Fool's gold broke my heart
shone so brightly then fell apart

I was locked in bitter strife
fighting monsters all of my life
I was out to break the pledge
force myself across the edge
Fools gold bitter sting
broken promise hollow ring
Fool's gold cast the die
broken promise empty lie

Taking The Time

I was standing on the mountain top staring at the sun
I was trying to act the hero's part not fooling anyone
I was living for the moment but the moment never came
Taking notes and stealing quotes, trying to make a name
My time's been taken with taking my time
By making my mind up to make up my mind

I was living in the country: I was trying not to freeze
I was working on the cabbage plants, chopping down the trees
I was learning how to cook the goose and how to milk the cow
Taking out the dog for walks, teaching him how to bow
My time's been taken with taking my time
I'm making my mind up to make up my mind

The Unquiet Zone

They seek us in this unquiet zone
they chase us on from hole to hole
They hunt us down like carrion crows
they search us out like frightened moles

This surely is a dreadful war
An awful waste of guts and gore
An awful waste of human life
This senseless, bloody, bitter strife

We huddled close against the ground
scared to make the slightest sound
And all around the great guns boom
The constant march of pending doom

The Final Thrust

It's the final throw
The final blow
Break or bust
We must make our thrust
Lose or win
We can't give in
Right or wrong
We must go on

There's no time for doubt
We must fight it out
Lose or win
We can't give in
Gain or blow
We must take our throw
Place or show
We can't let go, we won't let go.

It's the final throw
The final blow
Faith or doubt
We must cast them out.
Lose or win,
We can't give in
Break or bust
It's the final thrust

There's no time for doubt
We must fight it out
Lose or win
We can't give in
Gain or blow
We must take our throw
Place or show
We can't let go, we won't let go.

I Keep Forgetting

I keep forgetting you don't love me no more
I keep forgetting you don't want me no more
I keep forgetting that you told me that you
Didn't want me around anymore
But these stupid old feet
Just head for your street
Like they've done so many times before
And this stubborn old fist
At the end of my wrist
Keeps knocking on your front door

I keep forgetting you don't love me no more
I keep forgetting you don't want me no more
I keep forgetting about those heartbreaking nights
Ant those heartbreaking things that you said
Though it's plain as can be
You're finished with me
I can't believe our love is dead
Though I know in my heart
We've drifted apart
I just can't get it through my head

Without A Doubt

I'm going downstairs to be a poet
Got a great idea: gonna write a sonnet
A verse or two of fearless prose
A priceless quip to gild the rose
I'll make my fortune overnight
My work will set the world alight

Just a line is all I need
Just a thought to sow the seed
Just a word to start me out.
The rest will come without a doubt

I'm going downstairs to write a book
Got a great idea's gonna really cook
A rattling good yarn with an ironic twist
A riveting ending that's not to be missed
Makesure the presses are ready to steam
This book is a scorcher, a publisher's dream

Just the first part's all I need
The rest will come with lightning speed
Just a line to set the stage.
My pen will dance across the page

I'm going downstairs to write a play
Got a great idea gonna make it pay
This serious drama won't be understood
The critics will love it and say that it's good
"At last a new writer, a true nouvelle vague"
In no time at all I'll be king of the stage

Just a story's all I need.
Just a thought to sow the seed
Just a line to start me out .
The rest will come without a doubt

The Piper's Tune

And so you've made a nasty mess;
you have caused your mother great distress
They're bound to even up the score
you'll get no sweeties anymore
They'll give your friends a talking to
persuade them not to play with you.
They'll tell them 'bout your awful crime
there'll be no second chance this time

It seems they're out to take your skin
They'll cut you up and throw you in
They say you've led them up the path
and now they'll take their turn to laugh
They say they laid a careful trap
and now you've fallen in their lap.
They're out to make a sacrifice
and you're the one to pay the price.

It's no use knocking on the door
There's none can help you anymore
You've gambled and your chance was lost
and now you'll have to pay the cost
You wouldn't take your mum's advice
and now you'll have to pay the price
They say the piper calls the tune
You'll hear his music very soon.

Typewriter Torment

Typewriter torment, dreadful disease
Caught it the first day I touched the keys
You wear down your fingers and churn out your pap
It eats up your life like a dose of the clap
Typewriter torment it tortures me still
If only my doctor could see that I'm ill

Typewriter fever gives birth to a flood
It sweeps through your body and curdles your blood
You curse and discurse but you're damned for all time
The moment your fingers give birth to a rhyme
Typewriter fever it harries me still
If only my doctor would give me a pill

Typewriter fever I'm worn to a stub
I've dumped my Thesaurus and pulled out the plug
I'm rending my ribbon and bending my spool
Don't bother rewinding: I'm done with it all
But why can't my doctor just say that I'm ill?
Typewriter fever is paying his bill.

Eight Days A Week

Ooh I need your love babe
Guess you know it's true
hope you need my love babe
just like I need you
hold me love me
hold me love me
I ain't got nothing but love babe
eight days a week

Love you every day girl
always on my mind
one thing I can say girl
love you all the time
hold me love me
hold me love me
I ain't got nothing but love babe
eight days a week