GUN, SWORD

   (IN UNISON)

WHO SPEAKS?

SWORD

YOUR...

GOD WITH US

HAS BEEN A CREED

THAT´S KEPT ME DRIPPING WITH THIS...

GORE,

SINCE TIME BEGANG...

SO KNOW THE SCORE,

YOU,

PACIFIST,

IMAGE OF CHRIST,

THOU SHALT NOT KILL...?

HAH!

BUT STILL MUST FIGHT

FOR THE RIGHT

NOT TO KILL...

...OR BE KILLED

LUCIFER... DEMANDS THE CROWN.

YET, CANNOT CLAIM IT

ON HIS OWN,

HE NEEDS MY HELP,

AND STRONG ARMED MEN,

TO CAST HIS DARK CLOAK

OÉR THE THRONE.

SO HOW CAN YOU

MY GENTLE KNIGHT,

DEFEND

YOUR KING

THE PRINCE OF LIGHT,

IF YOU WON´T TAKE ME UP

AND FIGHT

FOR THE RIGHT

NOT TO KILL -- OR BE KILLED.

YOU MUST

PERSIST TO EXIST,

RESIST TO EXIST,

SCION OF PEACE.

NARRATOR

A GUN FOR HIRE´S

STACCATO VOICE

SHOUTS,

GUN

SATAN´S NOT THE ONLY CHOICE...

FOUR HORSEMEN CLAMOUR AT MY GATE,

BEREFT OF LOVE,

THEY OFFER--

HATE...

AS BOUNTY FOR MY DEADLY MIGHT,

TO WREST FROM MAN

THAT GOD GIV´D RIGHT...

MORTALITY...

BRIEF

SPAN OF LIFE

DECREED BY FATE AND ROLL OF DIE,

BUT OF TIMES ENDED

IN A THRICE...

BY DEATH´S COLD GLANCE,

THAT ASHEN MASK,

WHICH OVERSEES

MY THANKLESS TASK.

NARRATOR

THEN, NODDING TO THE SWORD, HE SMILES...

SEER

WHILST POSSIBLE...

NARRATOR

THE SEER REPLIED.

SEER

TO CHANGE A RIVER´S COURSE, AND HIDE,

ALL TRACE

OF FORMER

SPRING,

AND NEAP,

TERRA HIMSELF WOULD NEVER SEEK,

A COURSE

STEER´D FROM

OCEANA´S REACH.

AND SO IT IS, CONCERNING MEN,

A BOW,

THROUGH ALL DEGREES CAN BEND,

... THE ARROW THOUGH,

MUST REST.

WHEN SPENT.

NARRATOR

WHAT STRAIN OF MADNEES SUMMONED THESE

FOUL VISIONS TO ASSAULT MY SENSE?

WHAT CASTE OF DIABOLIC SPELL

REASED THESE DENIZENS
OF HELL?

I´D RUN AS LIARS FLEE FROM TRUTH

WHERE I NOT HELD TRANSFIXED BY THIS
SERPENTS EYE OF SORCERRY.
WISE MAN, THOU SEEMS A GENTLE WRAITH,

HOW MAY I EXORCISE THIS COURSE?

SEER

Mortal, SEEK WITHIN THYSELF A FLEETING STUNNING STATE OF GRACE.

SWORD

WHOSE WHISPERED OBSEQUIES ARE THESE?

I´LL SING HIS LAY;

MOAN HIS NAME;

HERALD HIS WAKE!

WITH RINGING PEELS OF SHARPENED STELL,

A CLASHING,

SWEEPING,

SLASHING,

GASHING,

RAZORED, CRIMSON, SWATHE I´LL TRACE,

TO STOP HIS BLURT,

HACK HIS HEAD,

LAME HIS LEG,

CHOP HIS CHEEK,

CLIP HIS SPEECH,

SPILL CORPUSCLES OÉR HIS KNEES,

WATCH WHERE WIT RUNS,

AS HE BLEEDS.

WISEACRE,

CEASE THIS SYBIL´S DIRGE,

OR SWIFT AS ATROPOS, MY EDGE,

WILL CUT YOUR THREAD.

GUN

PLAY STATUE SWORD.

NARRATOR

GUN MENACES.

GUN

OR ELSE, IN ONE DEPLETING FLASH,

THY SHADOW SHAPE,

WILL BERECAST,

TO MATCH THIS FORMLESS SCHEME THOU HATCH,

I´LL REND THY TEMPERED SPINE; CUTLESS,

SHOULD YOU BUT PLANT,

A SINGLE KISS,

UPON THIS SAYER´S HOARY LIPS.

SUCH DELPHIC DISCOURSE,

THIS ORACLE MAY PROFIT...US!

GUN

PASTOR, THOU HAS PRAYED THY LAST,

THY SERMON TIMERS RUN ITS SAND.

THIS BLADE WILL FUEL THY QUICK DESPATCH.

THY OFFERING PLATE, WILL SOUND NO MORE,

OF COINS DROPPED FOR THE NEEDY POOR;

THY BELLS HAVE RUNG THEIR FINAL CHANGE,

THY PARSONAGE WILL BE GRAVE.

PROPAGANDA MACHINE

BASTARDS, BETRAYED BEFORE BIRTH,

BLOODY BAYONET,

BLASTED BOMBARD,

BEWARE BITTERNESS,

BIAS BELITTLES,

BAN BATTLES,

BET BAWLES

bETRAY bROTHERS,

BAR BRASHNESS;

BADGER BADGES,

BAFFLE BANKERS,

BELIE BOMBAST,

BEDAZZLE BEDFELLOWS.

SWORD

BEHEAD BANTER.

GUN

BESTOW BEREA-

VEMENT.

NARRATOR

A JESTER ENTERS WITH HIS TEAM, THEY LAUGH AMID THIS NIGHTMARE SCENE.

CLOWN

BY BULLDOGS BRENT BELOW BELIEF,

BY BAITED BEARS BERINGED BY BEASTS.

THIS WORDY PROPAGANDIST HERE,

HAS SAVED HIS GRACE, YON VISIONARY,

ARMED ONLY WITH THE LETTER B:

BOUGHT OFF THE BULLY WEAPONRY;

WITH BADINAGE AND BAFOONERY;

BITES OF BORING DICTIONERY;

TAKEN TWIXT THE A AND C,

HAVE QUITE ENTRANCED THIS MURDEROUS TEAM.

JESTER

METHINKS THIS HELLISH SPELLING BEE,

LOOMS TO WEAVE A SPELL OR THREE,

SUCH WARPED CRETONNE OF DARK DESIGN,

WILL NOT TWIST ME INTO ITS YARN,

´TIS CURTAINS TO BE SO ENTWINED!

NARRATOR

A CONTOURED VOICE REPLIES...

PROPAGANDA MACHINE

PROPAGANDA MACHINE,

VENDOR... OF DREAMS...

´TIS I REJECT YOUR WORTHLESS SCHEMES.

THIS PROFFERED CHOICE,

TWIXT DEATH AND HELL,

WITH DEAD AND HELL,

WITH DEATH THE PRIZE,

WILL NEVER SEEL,

BUT,

COUCHED WITHIN MY CLICHED GUILE,

WITH INUENDO AS A BRIDGE,

A CAUSE

CAN CONSUMATE

MANKIND,

SEDUCING COUNTLESS OPEN MINDS.

CONSIDER THAT

NON COMBATANT,

UNCLENCH THY BALLED, RELUCTANT FISTS,

DEFEND THOU WITH

MY WORDY

GRIST.

MANIPULATE TO BEND MEN´S WILLS...

THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

NO CAMPAIGN IS TOO GREAT A TASK,

WHILST BUGLES BLARE IN EV´RY CAMP,

I ORCHESTRATE -- CACOPHONY,

DISCORDANT CHORDS FORM SYMPHONIES

... WITH OVERTURE COMPOSED BY ME,

AND SOLOIST,

SUPPLIED...

BY THEE.

BY UNCONFIRMED REPORTS

I HIDE

PURE SIMPLE TRUTH,

OR

MYRIAD LIES.

BY AGENT; PROPHET,

RACONTEUR,

NARRATOR, PRIEST, PROVOCATEUR,

LOQUACIOUS TONGUES SHALL SPREAD THY WORD...

FOR COUNTRY,

OR ILL...

DEPENDS WHO´S FINGERS ON THE TILL!

SO,

PEACEMONGER,

BE ADISED,

TO DWELL ON ... THIS,

WITH WORDS I´D STRIVE,

TO QUELL THE CANNON´S

HUNGRY ROAR,

AND STILL THE REAPERS DEATH HUED SWORD.

THOU,

SAGE,

WHAT THINK YOU OF MY PLAN,

TO MARRY PEACE

AND COMMON MAN?

SWORD AS CIRCE FAVOURED ULYSEES! NO BANQUETS AT THE TROUGH I SEEK, FIRST, DUB ME BLUNT, I´LL TAKE THAT SMEER, AS YORE´S ARCHAIC KING´S STICK DID.

NARRATOR TO EDWARD´S PRICK ALLUDES SWORD NOW, DULL BLADE OF MERCY, CURTANA, WHO SHAMED HIS KIND RIGHT ROYALLY, DISPENSING NAUGHT BUTCLEMENCY, GRACING NONE ´CEPT MAJESTY: ...WAIT; HE STARTS ANOTHER SPEECH.

SWORD GUN, I WILL EMBRANCE THY POINT, ´TIS LOATHSOME THAT WE TWO CONFRONT. FOR NOW I´LL SPARE THIS WIZZARD´S NECK THUS, TO PRESERVE THY PATRONAGE.

GUN SWORD, I LAUD THY CLASSIC SHIFT, A WELL PLACED PAEN TO PARTNERSHIP. YOU EYE MY SIGHT´S  I´LL GUIDETHY TILT. ... MEANTIME, WE CAN QUESTION THIS, PHILOSOPHER, WHO VIES WITH US.   HO, ORATOR WHAT SPEW THOU, TO TREATY WITH OUR AWESOME POWER.

SEER ADAM. EDEN´S END ENTAIL´D YET STILL, TO ALL MEN COMES THE DAY, WHEN CHOICE, WILL, DO NOT PREVAIL; A SUN´S SPAN TO BE LIV´D AGAIN, DIVINE, ENLIGHTTENED, FREE OF SIN.   MAN AS GOD AT ONE WITH MAN. GOD AS MAN AT ONE WITH MAN. GOD AS GOD AT ONE WITH MAN. MAN AS MAN AT ONE WITH GOD GOD AS MAN AT ONE WITH GOD MAN AS GOD AT ONE WITH MAN MAN AS MAN AT ONE WITH GOD

SWORD NO NEW ASPECT OF TEPID NORM, DECREED BY LAW AND AXIOM, WHERE MAN, UNSATISFIED AS GOD, RESHOES THE HOOVES ALREADY SHOD?

GUN TO BETTER STAMP THIS TRANSIENT SOD OF HUBRIS, MANKINDS TRIBAL PLOT. WITH MEPHISTOS RANK CLOVEN MARK.

SWORD SAGE, WHAT ROLL EXISTS FOR US, WITHIN THY WORLD OF INNER PEACE?

SEER NO PART FOR THY SAVAGERY.

SWORD I´LL GUT THEE GURU, VOID THY VEINS, UNFETTER THY EPHEMERAL CHAINS, DISPATCH THEE FROM THY WORDLY BANE.

GUN STAND BACK GUN, I´LL SCOOP HIS BRAIN, INTO THY BREACH, A FUSILADE FROM THEE SHALL PREACH, THIS NO- NAUGHT´S  DICTUM INTO SPACE.

CLOWN THIS MORBID CHOIR CHANTS NAUGHT FOR ME, A WISE MAN´S FOOL I´D RATHER BE, AS WOLSEY´S PATCH,  OR DAGONET, A WALLET TO ELIZABETH.

JESTER IF WOMEN´S EARS THOU WOULD´ST VOUCHSAFE, WITH COMEDIE THAT STINGS OF TRUTH, ´TIS BEST TO KNOW OF WITCHERY; ENLIST THE AID OF ALCHEMY, THIS, LEAST OF ALL, THY CRAFT WILL NEED, TO SAVE THY RUMP FROM BUTCHERY. THERE WAS A TIME HECATE WAS NOT SO DRAINED, BEFORE BURNT TO THE CORE, FULL COLOURED, SHE SAILED. DEPLOYING THRICE THE ORB NOW DISPLAYED. UNTROUBLED TILL SPORE OF DISTANT CLIME, REDUCED HER CHARM.   CAN YOU,CLOWN, ENVISAGE MOON, AS JAWEHS´S BOON, BEFORE CANIDIA, SORCERESS?

CLOWN AN AGE WHEN MOONBEAMS PULSED WITH LIFE? HUH, THAT STORY´S TALLER THAN MY WIFE; JESTER´S RHYMING RIDDLE TRIPE!

JUGGLER I PLACED THAT ORB, PART OF MY ACT, I TOSSED SO HIGH, COULD NOT FALL BACK

JESTER JUGGLER OF BALLS, ENOUGHOF IT, TO BANDY WORDS WOULD BRING MORE PROFIT.

FIRER-EATER I SCORCHED THE SPHERE WHILST BREATHING FIRE, I´LL SINGE THE FOOL WHO CALLS ME LIAR.

CLOWN IMMOLATE THY LIPS MORE LIKE.   . . . HEY JESTER, WHO´S YON BALEFUL TIKE?   COME, JOIN US, WITH THY FRETFUL FROWN, THOU NEEDS NO MASK TO PLAY SAD CLOWN.

NARRATOR THE PAGEANT TARRIED BRIEFLY AT MY DOOR; BE RIGHT IN COSTUME WAS I BORN. ELEMENTAL GARB, TELLURIAN FORM. BEFITTED ME TO JOIN THIS ENTOURAGE. YET, STILL I WAIT. BY INCREMENTS OF PLEASURE, INCREASING WITHOUT MEASURE, ACCOUTREMENTS OF TREASURE COULD BE MINE, YET, I STILL I BIDE MY TIME. DOES THIS CAVALCADE NEED ANOTHER CLOWN?

WORDS WRITTEN AND SPOKE BY MAXWELL  LANGDOWN - MUSIC COMPOSED AND  PERFORMED BY MIDGE URE AND CHRIS CROSS. MANUAL PERCUSION KENNY  HYSLOP: RECORDED 1979-80/ 1981-83. ILLUSTRATIONS- JIM GIBSON