Credit: Peter Hammill
Date: 1995
Type: Studio
Length: 4:36
you turn out the lights and sit alone
trying to pretend that it’s anguish
start at the ring of a telephone
throw down all your food at the banquet
keep a close eye on all you own
while leaving it all too languish
is this what makes you happy
is this what brings you joy
your excuses are so crappy silly boy
you take all the love and throw it aside
to wallow in your sorrow
expect everyone to know how you feel inside
to forgive and forget come tomorrow
repaying all your debts with uncommon pride
but denying that you ever borrowed
is this what makes you perfect
is this what makes you free
just how long did you rehearse it
or does it come naturally
crying wolf from the depth of your sheep’s heart
crying fire from the depth of the well
in an endless parade of repeat stars
just how long will it last-can you tell
until all your friends and lovers
are simply bored with the pretence
I’ll be too late then to discover
just exactly what you meant
and what was true
and what was false
the wolf turned into human
the killer with remorse
crying pain as thought that should be pleasure
crying anger as thought that should be revenge
crying sorrow as thought that were a treasure-
your treasure will find you in the end
when all of your friends have gone away
unwilling to put up with the danger
that lies in each spiteful word you say
you’ll have made yourself a perfect stranger
baying at the moon both night and day
you’ll be left, a greying wolf in manger
and when you’ve raised your last howl
and destroyed all that you can
with rotten teeth and slack jowls
you’ll be left a lonely man
and when it’s nearly finished
and you know the end is near
with true sorrow undiminished
ther’ll be no-one left to hear
your desperate cries
they all come out as bleats
you thought you were a wolf-man
but you’re really just a sheep
