In the door on the floor in a paper bag

There’s a shoe-shine boy with a gin-shop slag

She raised him up and she called him son

And she canonised the ground that he walked upon

Lament

(Richard W. Palmer-James)

© 1974 EG Music Ltd. © 1974 EG Records Ltd.

Published by EG Music Inc. (BMI)

I guess I tried to show you how I’d take the crowd with my guitar And Business men would clap their hands And clip another fat cigar And publishers would spread the news And print my music far and wide And all the kids who played the blues Would learn my licks with a bottle neck slide But now it seems the bubble’s burst Although you know there was a time When love songs gathered in my head With poetry in every line And strongmen strove to hold the doors While with my friends I passed the age When people stomped on dirty floors Before I trod the rock’n’roll stage I’ll thank the man who’s on the ’phone And if he has a time to spend The problem I’ll explain once more And indicate a sum to lend That ten percent is now a joke Maybe thirty, even thirty-five I’ll say my daddy’s had a stroke He’d have one now, if he only was alive I like the way you look at me You’re laughing too down there inside I took my chance and you took yours You crewed my ship, we missed the tide I like the way the music goes There’s a few good guys who can play it right I like the way it moves my toes Just say when you want to go and dance all night… Ночной дозор[39]

(Ричард У. Палмер-Джеймс)

Впервые появилась на альбоме «Беззвездие и Тьма Египетская» / «Starless and Bible Black», 1974

Светит, светит, светит свет добрых дел. Дозор перед городскими воротами, изображенный в расцвете сил. Этот золотой свет, теперь весь потускневший: Три сотни лет прошло. Почтенный Капитан и браво стоящие воины его отряда. Художник хорошо знал их лица: Мужей своих подруг, Своих кредиторов и советников В блеске доспехов, торговых людей. В праздничный для гильдии час, В строгих позах давних лет, Отцы города замерли там На темном от времени холсте. Запах краски, фляга вина — И все эти лица глядят на меня. Мушкетон, древко алебарды И голландская респектабельность. Они входят, один за другим, Защитники своего образа жизни: Дома из красного кирпича, буржуазии, Уроков гитары для жены. Так много лет мы страдали тут, Наша страна истощена Испанскими войнами, Теперь настал шанс обрести себя И тихое счастье за нашими дверями. Мы опять думаем о потомстве. И вот достоинство маленьких людей, Бюргеров, добродетельных и искренних, Продолжает жить благодаря руке художника И требует от нас понимания. The Night Watch

(Richard W. Palmer-James)

© 1974 EG Music Ltd. © 1974 EG Records Ltd.

Published by EG Music Inc. (BMI)

Shine, shine, the light of good works shine The watch before the city gates depicted in their prime That golden light all grimy now Three hundred years have passed The worthy Captain and his squad of troopers standing fast The artist knew their faces well The husbands of his lady friends His creditors and councillors In armour bright, the merchant men Official moments of the guild In poses keen from bygone days The city fathers frozen there Upon the canvas dark with age The smell of paint, a flask of wine And turn those faces all to me The blunderbuss and halberd-shaft And Dutch respectability They make their entrance one by one Defenders of that way of life The redbrick home, the bourgeoisie Guitar lessons for the wife So many years we suffered here Our country racked with Spanish wars Now comes a chance to find ourselves And quiet reigns behind our doors We think about posterity again And so the pride of little men The burghers good and true Still living through the painter’s hand Request you all to understand Мясорубка

(Ричард У. Палмер-Джеймс)

Впервые появилась на альбоме «Беззвездие и Тьма Египетская» / «Starless and Bible Black», 1974

Пальцы хватучие, Пальцы вонючие. Прыжок… и стон, Спокойной ночи, милая. Ты совсем одна, Детка, дышишь. Они стали лучше выглядеть, Но не стали лучше их манеры. The Mincerвернуться

39

Ночной дозор. Картина Рембрандта.