VdGG - The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969)

AFTERWARDS

You stare out in yellow eyes larger than my mind;
in viscous pools of joy, relaxing, we glide...
it's all too beautiful
for my mind to bear.
and, as we shimmer into sleep, something's unshared.

But, seeing the flower that was there yesterday,
a tear forms just behind the soft peace of your shades...
The world's too lonely
for a message to slip
but between the dying rails of peace
you trip.

The petals that were blooming are just paper in your hand;
your eyes, which were clear in the night, are opaque as you stand...
It was too beautiful
for it to last...
These visions shimmer and fade out of
the glass.

ORTHENTHIAN STREET

                 Part I 

I feel a calling for the sea, I want to walk on the sand dunes...
I hope you'll forgive me if I say I can't take you:
    at some times I've got to get away,
    if just to get a break from the play
    that we're all involved in.

All the love I'm living now could have ended yesterday
if the snow had fallen too hard up there on the Motorway...
    If it happens, don't feel sorry, I won't feel alone:
    it's just another travelling zone
    that you can't come on.



            Part II

Can't stop for a second:
    we might see how silly we all are.
Can't get out, even for a moment:
    might be hit by a passing car.
Dreams shatter and fall into dust,
as long as we're travelling I suppose they must.
But, while we're on the road, our days'll be glowing;
and when we part, as you know we must,
we'll leave, just going
ever so slowly,
ever so slowly.

Motorway signs flash past like flies,
it's getting late and we're going home.
We all travel in parallel lines,
heading into the twilight zone.
    All I really want now is you by my side;
    yes, it's a sweet ride
    while we're still together.

Yes, it's a sunny day, and we're off on our sea trip;
The water may be cold in the bay,
but we're safe on our sailing ship,
    and, if ice forms, you can walk home to land
    and still cling to my hand
    if you still want to...

RUNNING BACK

I thought I'd give it up for good,
'cause none of my actions are understood.
I thought I'd really leave,
and my coming back's something you'd never perceive.
    I thought I'd make it;
    Yes, I really thought I'd make it,
    but then you smiled, you didn't rile me,
    now I'm running back
    running, running back.

I saw a vision of a love long deceased
and a chilly wind coming from East.
I know I can say I did my best,
but there were no more warm winds from the West.
    Still I thought I'd make it;
    Yes, I really thought I'd make it,
    but then you smiled, you didn't rile me,
    now I'm running back
    running, running back.

I thought you'd never be missed,
and I really believed we'd never share another kiss.
And I thought for the last time I'd touched your hand,
but your love draws me back like quicksand.
    Still I thought I'd make it;
    Yes, I really thought I'd make it,
    but then you smiled, you didn't rile me,
    now I'm running back
    running, running back.

And now I'm coming yes home.

I'm coming home.

INTO A GAME

I never thought it could come to this,
as you sit there crying,
hanging on with your fingertips
to something that's already dead.
Now we're into a game
and it's all a bit strange.

Once on a time we were sincere;
now, we're acting charades,
hiding behind cracked images
from other people's stages;
now, we're into a game,
and it's all a bit strange,
but familiar, too...
the rules never change; I know it, but do you?

I've seen it all before,
and this play no longer moves me,
but the closing of a door
is never easy.

FERRET AND FEATHERBIRD

Time has come between us,
in the passing months I've felt you slip away
as your words and mine came like nursery rhymes
till there was nothing left to say.
         
Distance came between us long ago,
as our memories faded away...
over the miles I ceased to smile
because nothing felt the same.
         
That's how it seemed a week ago,
far off in time and space.
         
Time and distance are between us now,
they form a bond to make things sure.
Nothing ever shatters,
you know what happens:
time and distance make a love secure.

THE AEROSOL GREY MACHINE

Just one breath, and it's instant death,
it's the Aerosol Grey Machine!
Just one breath, and it's instant death,
it's the Aerosol Grey Machine!

You're walking along the road one day,
up comes a man dressed all in grey;
he blows a little aerosol in your face
and you find your mind's all over the place...

Just one breath, and it's instant death,
it's the Aerosol Grey Machine!

(hype:) "Buy an Aerosol Grey Machine for your own home today!"
(dissent:) "Shan't. Shan't. I'm not going to!"
(sniggersnigger. chortle.)

BLACK SMOKE YEN

AQUARIAN

Now we sit here in our special place,
all wearing our happy faces gladly.
Sunlight appears in our world; our joy
has been turned from badness.
Now we've moved and left alone
and it's easier that way.
We are riding on rainbows
and happy today.
Now we move to the sun in every direction;
we are cloaked in veils of mystic protection...
joking a lot, smoking or not,
floating our yacht off to freedom,
voting to be Aquarian!

I hold silver flashing metal in the palm
of my petal hand, watching it quiver:
to breathe too close is death -
ah, but wat is breath but a way to deliverance?
Soon we will all be joined
in a great silver tube,
wanting every one to come along,
that means you too!
Now we move to the sun in every direction;
we are cloaked in veils of mystic protection...
mapping the way, clapping to say
we're happy today, and assured of
the fact that we're all Aquarian!

Hardly any money... who needs bread anyway?
Well, I mean to say, it's just the read to freedom!
Everything's too funny; we just ride along so high,
watch the bad scenes floating by, who needs them?
Soon we will all be joined
in a great silver tube,
wanting every one to come along,
that means you too!
Now we move to the sun in every direction;
we are cloaked in veils of mystic protection...
Lighting the path, righting the past,
fighting the dark like centurions,
writing our names as Aquarians!
As Aquarians, but as Aquarians!

Writing our names as we move to the sun,
we're Aquarian!

GIANT SQUID

I wish that you would set me free forever
but the rings on my arms are too deeply burned...

OCTOPUS

I want to paint you poems full of fire,
you who I do not know.

Now my mind is tested with love which
twists and wavers from side to side and which
some day soon you may see...
    I want you to cascade through ten thousand
    rainbows with me and dredge mountains
    from the sea:
you who I now begin to know.

But emotion is pent up inside,
too scared of dying again to live,
and meanwhile I must endure your
    red-copper hair screaming like a
    water-baby black eyes stare
    from my ceiling:
you who I now truly know...

Now I cannot see too clearly
and already my trellis stands bare...
How can I break free of these overclinging
arms which entwine and enfold me?... And reach
to the clear blue sea?
    I want you to know, but how can I
    tell you? I want you to see
    but my own eyes are blind...

The Octopus now enfolds me,
I know you too well...

NECROMANCER

Yes I live in the black woods, where you dare not even
    speak my name.
If there is evil in your heart and you will come near to me you will
    lose your sane.
My form is mystic, but my heart is pure,
you'd better believe what I say:
I am the Necromancer.

I cast deep spells and potent: I am a Seer
    of the Real.
My forces work against evil, for I love
    all I feel.
I know the secrets long forgotten,
you'd better believe in me:
I am the Necromancer.

Look into my eyes!
I tell you, occults power lies in love.
I fight against darkness, the power
of the Black.

Every day the power is greater, and soon the world will
    come to rights.
Through the magic, through the power, shaman shall die
    on the seventh night.
And now remember magic is here;
you'd better believe in the White.

I am the Necromancer,
and I come to carry your heart away to good.




All tracks written by Peter Hammill, 
except 'Black Smoke Yen' (Ellis-Evans-Banton).

Instrumentation:

Hugh Robert Banton:          piano, organ, sa sa ka, dissent, vocals
Keith Ian Ellis:             wah-wah bass, added vocals, chant, croon
Guy Randolph Evans:          drums, talking drums, sa sa ka
Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill: vocal, acoustic guitar, chant, hype
Jeff:                        flute