In Held 'Twas in I - Procol Harum, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

In the darkness of the night

Only occasionally relieved by glimpses of Nirvana

As seen through other people’s windows

Wallowing in a morass of self-despair

Made only more painful by the knowledge

That all I am is of my own making

When everything around me, even the kitchen ceiling

Has collapsed and crumbled without warning

And I am left, standing alive and well

Looking up and wondering why and wherefore

At a time like this, which exists maybe only for me

But is nonetheless real, if I can communicate

And in the telling and the bearing of my soul

Anything is gained, even though the words

Which I use are pretentious and make you cringe

With embarrassment, let me remind you of the pilgrim

Who asked for an audience with the Dalai Lama

He was told he must first spend five years in contemplation

After the five years

He was ushered into the Dalai Lama’s presence, who said

'Well, my son, what do you wish to know?'

So the pilgrim said

'I wish to know the meaning of life, father.'

So the Dalai Lama smiled and said

'Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn’t it?'

Held close by that which some despise

Which some call fake, and others lies

And somewhat small, for one so tall

A doubting Thomas who would be?

It’s written plain for all to see

For one who I am with no more

It’s hard at times, it’s awful raw

They say that Jesus healed the sick and helped the poor

And those unsure believed his eyes

A strange disguise

Still, write it down it might be read

Nothing’s better left unsaid

Only sometimes, still no doubt

It’s hard to see, it all works out

'Twas tea-time at the circus

King Jimi, he was there

Through hoops he skipped

High wires he tripped

And all the while the glare

Of the baking, aching spotlights

Beat down upon his cloak

And though the crowd clapped furiously

They could not see the joke

'Twas tea-time at the circus

Though some might not agree

As jugglers danced and horses pranced

And clowns clowned endlessly

But trunk to tail the elephants quite silent, never spoke

And though the crowd clapped desperately

They could not see the joke

Yeah!

Good one!

In the autumn of my madness

When my hair is turning grey

For the milk has finally curdled

And I’ve nothing left to say

When all my thoughts are spoken

Save my last departing birds

Bring all my friends unto me

And I’ll strangle them with words

In the autumn of my madness

Which in coming won’t be long

For the nights are now much darker

And the daylight’s not so strong

And the things which I believed in

Are no longer quite enough

For the knowing is much harder

And the going’s getting rough

I know if I’d been wiser

This would never have occurred

But I wallowed in my blindness

So it’s plain that I deserve

For the sin of self-indulgence

When the truth was writ quite clear

I must spend my life amongst the dead

Who spend their lives in fear

Of a death that they’re not sure of

Of a life they can’t control

It’s all so simple really

If you just look to your soul, yeah

Some say that I’m a wise man

Some think that I’m a fool

It doesn’t matter either way

I’ll be a wise man’s fool

For the lesson lies in learning

And by teaching I’ll be taught

For there’s nothing hidden anywhere

It’s all there to be sought

And so if you know anything

Look closely at the time

At others who remain untrue

And don’t commit that crime, yeah

It’s all so simple really

If you just look to your soul, yeah

Instrumental