The Glass Character: Incredible String Band

Showing posts with label Incredible String Band. Show all posts

Friday, June 7, 2013

Incredible word soup

Ducks on a pond, ducks on a pond

Very pretty swimming round

The lion and the unicorn journey very far

The answers are the question, sir

The lady soothes the lion's fur

Meek as a lamb he follows her

Wherever angels are

Sing me something

I asked the ice it would not say

But only cracked or moved away

I thought I knew me yesterday

Whoever sings this song

Greetings on you kings in the sky

Who'll buy me a mynah bird

Play me a magic word

Speak of hopes with thoughts absurd

Thoughts floating by

Little ducks, pretty birds

Clouds across the sky

Moving pieces on the plains of Troy

Carving faces on the rocks of joy

Pretty lady washing the tiles

Soapy pictures like crocodiles

Chilly winds blowing

Lovely spring coming soon

I wear my body like a caravan

Gipsy rover in a magic land

Misty mountains where the eagles fly

Lonely valleys where the lost ones cry

I had a little letter full of paper

Inky scratches everywhere

Always looking, looking for a paradise island

Help me find it everywhere

Peacocks talking of the colour grey

Awaking soundly in darkest day

A howling tempest on a silent sea

Lovely Jesus nailed to a tree

Mad as the moon when Merlin falls

Silver castles and silver halls

Taking lessons from the piper's son

Learn to play while the world is young

Boys and girls come out to play

The moon doth shine as bright as day

Leave your sorrows and leave your sleep

And join your playfellows in the street

Come with a whoop or come with a call

Come with a goodwill or not at all

Up the ladder and down the wall

A ha'penny loaf will serve for all

Following my fortune now the Holy Grail is found

And the Holy Bread of Heaven it is given all around

Farewell sorrow, praise God the open door

I ain't got no home in this world any more

Poor as the birds but to give their song away

Gathering possessions round to make a bright array

Dark was the night, praise God the open door

I ain't got no home in this world anymore.

- Incredible String Band, Wee Tam, 1968

http://margaretgunnng.blogspot.ca/2013/04/the-glass-character-synopsis.html

http://members.shaw.ca/margaret_gunning/betterthanlife.htm

OK then, this is a mixup, but not really. All day yesterday (or I think it was the day before), I was thinking of that Incredible String Band song Ducks on a Pond. Makes sense, because all I did that day was watch ducks/ducklings on a pond.

I wanted to post my homemade duckling gifs, video, etc. and wondered if the Ducks on a Pond song would be a good accompaniment. Well. . . I hadn't heard the Increds (as we called them back in 1968) for many, many years, but I remembered they were best listened to when you were stoned out of your mind on hashish (with a side of cheap wine). I now see why. The Ducks song just goes on forever, and though it has some arresting images in it, it's just too crazy to include here.

But I found another one, much shorter and more - what, sprightly? Less stoner-rific? Like you can actually listen to it clean and sober. No ducks in it, but it's still a nice song.

So here it is. . . with ducks.

You Get Brighter

You get brighter every day and every time I see you

Scattered brightness in your way and you taught me how to love you