℗ 1974 LP2
℗ 1974 Charisma Records CGS 101: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
℗ 1974 ATCO Records SD 2401: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
℗ 1974 LP1: disc 1
«The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway» — äâîéíîé êîíöåïòóàëüíûé àëüáîì áðèòàíñêîé ïðîãðîê-ãðóïïû Genesis. Ýòî øåñòîé èõ ñòóäèéíûé àëüáîì, ïîñëåäíèé, çàïèñàííûé ñ ó÷àñòèåì îñíîâíîãî âîêàëèñòà Ïèòåðà Ãýáðèýëà. |
The chamber was in confusion-all the voices shouting loud. I could only just hear, a voice quite near say, "Please help me Through the crowd" 'Said if I helped her thru' she could help me too, but I could See that she was wholly blind. But from her pale face and her pale skin, a moonlight shined. Lilywhite Lilith, She gonna take you thru' the tunnel of night. Lilywhite Lilith, She gonna lead you right. When I'd led her through the people, the angry noise began to grow. She said "Let me feel the way the breezes blow, and I'll show you where to go." So I followed her into a big round cave, she said "They're coming For you, now don't be afraid." Then she sat me down on a cold stone throne, carved in jade. Lilywhite Lilith, She gonna take you thru' the tunnel of night. Lilywhite Lilith, She gonna lead you right. She leaves me in my darkness, I have to face my fear, And the darkness closes in on me, I can hear a whirring sound growling near. I can see the corner of the tunnel, Lit up by whatever's coming here. Two golden globes float into the room And a blaze of white light fills the air.
All the pumping's nearly over for my sweet heart, This is the one for me, Time to meet the chef, O boy! running man is out of death. Feel cold and old, it's getting hard to catch my breath. 'S back to ash, now, you've had your flash boy The rocks, in time, compress Your blood to oil, Your flesh to coal, Enrich the soil, Not everybody's goal. Anyway, they say she comes on a plate horse, But I'm sure I hear a train. O boy! I don't even feel no pain — I guess I must be driving myself insane. Damn it all! does earth plug a hole in heaven, Or heaven plug a hole in the earth-'how wonderful to be so profound, When everything you are is dying underground.' I feel the pull on the rope, let me off at the rainbow. I could have been exploding in space Different orbits for my bones Not me, just quietly buried in stones, Keep the deadline open with my maker! See me stretch; for God's elastic acre The doorbell rings and it's "Good morning Rael So sorry you had to wait. It won't be long, yeh! She's very rarely late."
Here comes the supernatural anaesthetist. If he wants you to snuff it, All he has to do is puff it — He's such a fine dancer.
The scent grows richer, he knows he must be near, He finds a long passageway lit by chandelier. Each step he takes, the perfumes change From familiar fragrance to flavours strange. A magnificent chamber meets his eye. Inside, a long rose-water pool is shrouded by fine mist. Stepping in the moist silence, with a warm breeze he's gently kissed. Thinking he is quite alone, He enters the room, as if it were his own, But ripples on the sweet pink water Reveal some company untaught of- Rael stands astonished doubting his sight, Struck by beauty, gripped in fright; Three vermilion snakes of female face, The smallest motion, filled with grace. Muted melodies fill the echoing hall, But there is no sign of warning in the siren's call: "Rael welcome, we are the Lamia of the pool. We have been waiting for our waters to bring you cool." Putting fear beside him, he trusts in beauty blind, He slips into the nectar, leaving his shredded clothes behind. "With their tongues, they test, taste and judge all that is mine. They move in a series of caresses That glide up and down my spine. As they nibble the fruit of my flesh, I feel no pain, Only a magic that a name would stain. With the first drop of my blood in their veins Their faces are convulsed in mortal pains. The fairest cries, 'We all have loved you Rael'." Each empty snakelike body floats, Silent sorrow in empty boats. A sickly sourness fills the room, The bitter harvest of a dying bloom. Looking for motion I know I will not find, I stroke the curls now turning pale, in which I'd lain entwined "O Lamia, your flesh that remains I will take as my food" It is the scent of garlic that lingers on my chocolate fingers. Looking behind me, the water turns icy blue, The lights are dimmed and once again the stage is set for you.
• The Arrival [Rael:]I wandered lonely as a cloud, Till I came upon this dirty street. I've never seen a stranger crowd; Slubberdegullions on a squeaky feet, Continually pacing, With nonchalant embracing, Each orifice disgracing And one facing me moves to say "hellay". His skin's all covered in slimy lumps. With lips that slide across each chin. His twisted limbs like rubber stamps Are waved in welcome say 'Please join in.' My grip must be flipping, Cos his handshake keeps slipping, My hopes keep on dipping And his lips keep on smiling all the time. [Slipperman:]"We like you, have tasted love. Don't be alarmed at what you see, You yourself are just the same As what you see in me." [Rael:]Me, like you? like that! [Slipperman:]"You better watch it son, your sentence has only just begun You better run and join your brother John." • A Visit to the Doktor [Slipperman:]"You're in the colony of slippermen. There's no who? why? what? or when? You get out if you've got the gripe To see, Doktor Dyper, reformed sniper- he'll whip off your windscreenwiper [Rael:]John and I are able To face the Doktor and his marble table. [The Doktor:]Understand Rael, it's the end of your tail. [Rael:]"Don't delay, dock the dick!" I watch his countdown timer tick... • The Raven He places the number into a tube, A yellow plastic "shoobedoobe". It says: "Though your fingers may tickle You'll be safe in our pickle." Suddenly, black cloud comes down from the sky. It's a supersize black bird that sure can fly. The raven brings on darkness and night He flies right down, gives me one hell of a fright. He takes the tube right out of my hands Man, I've got to find out where that black bird lands. "Look here John, I've got to run I need you now, you going to come?" He says to me. [John:]"Now can't you see Where the raven flies there's jeopardy. We've been cured on the couch Now you're sick with your grouch. I'll not risk my honey pouch Which my slouch will wear slung very low." [Rael:]He walks away and leaves me once again. Even though I never learn, I'd hoped he'd show just some concern. I'm in agony of Slipperpain I pray my undercarriage will sustain. The chase is on, the pace is hot But I'm running so very hard with everything I've got. He leads me down an underpass Though it narrows, he still flies very fast, When the tunnel stops I catch sight of the tube, just as it drops. I'm on top of a bank, to steep to climb, I see it hit the water, just in time, To watch it float away.
As he walks along the gorge's edge, He meets a sense of yesteryear. A window in the bank above his head Reveals his home amidst the streets. Subway sounds, the sounds of complaint The smell of acid on his gun of paint. As it carves out anger in a blood-red band, Destroyed tomorrow by an unknown hand; — My home. Is this the way out from this endless scene? Or just an entrance to another dream? And the light dies down on Broadway. But as the skylight beckons him to leave, He hears a scream for far below. Within the raging water, writhes the form Of brother John, he cries for help. The gate is fading now, but open wide, But John is drowning, I must decide Between the freedom I had in the rat-race, Or to stay forever in this forsaken place; Hey John! He makes for the river and the gate is gone, Back to the void where it came from. And the light dies down on Broadway.
Struggling down the slope, There's not much hope. I begin to try to ride the scree, but the rocks are tumbling all around me. If I want John alive, I've got to ditch my fear-take a dive, While I've still got my drive to survive. Evel Knievel, you got nothing on me. Here I go!
Moving down the water John is drifting out of sight, It's only at the turning point That you find out how to fight. In the cold, feel the cold All around And the rush of crashing water Surround me with its sound. Striking out to reach you, I can't get through to the other side. When you're racing in the rapids There's only one way, that's to ride. Taken down, taken down By the undertow And I'm spiralled down the river bed, My fire is burning low. Catching hold of a rock that's firm, I'm waiting for John to be carried past. We hold together and shoot the rapids fast. And when the waters slow down The dark and the deep Have no-one left to keep. Hang on John! We're out of this at last. Something's changed, that's not your face. It's mine!
When it's cold, it comes slow. It is warm, just watch it grow. — All around me. It is here. it is now. Just a little bit of it can bring you up or down. Like the supper it is cooking in your hometown. It is chicken, it is eggs, It is in between your legs. It is walking on the moon, Leaving your cocoon. It is the jigsa. it is purple haze. It never stays in one place, but it's not a passing phase, It is in the single's bar, in the distance of the face, It is in between the cages, it is always in a space It is here. it is now. Any rock can be made to roll, If you've enough of it to pay the toll. It has no home in words or goal, Not even in your favourite hole. It is the hope for the dope. When you ride the horse without a hoof. It is shaken, not stirred; Cocktails on the roof. When you eat right fru it you see everything alive, It is inside spirit, with enough grit to survive If you think it's pretentious, you've been taken for a ride. Look across the mirror, before you chose de cide It is here. it is now It is Rael. it is Rael 'Cos it's only knock and know all, but I like it.