I've been listening to ELP's seminal Brain Salad Surgery album as of late, which I consider to be one of the greatest albums ever made, and certainly one of the top five progressive rock albums of all time. ELP always had a weakness when it came to lyrics, but on BSS, singer Greg Lake teamed up with fellow King Crimson alumnus Pete Sinfield (who now writes lyrics for the likes of Celine Dion (Hey, the guys got to make a living!)) , and the collaboration yielded some excellent wordplay. I was particularly struck by the words in Karn Evil 9, First Impression, which makes some very astute observations on the human condition in regards to the general public's obsession with watching the miseries of others. One need only to go to the local supermarket and read the tabloids and celebrity magazines to get an idea of how true this observation is. Actually, one need only pick up any newspaper to see it, at this point. (Sidenote: this tune is frequently used on sports show intros. I guess it is midly funny that it is, considering the subject matter.)
Step inside! hello!
we’ve the most amazing show
You’ll enjoy it all, we know
Step inside! step inside!
We’ve got thrills and shocks,
supersonic fighting cocks.
Leave your hammers at the box
Come inside! come inside!
Roll up! roll up! roll up!See the show!
Left behind the bars, rows of bishops’ heads in jars
And a bomb inside a car
Spectacular! spectacular!
If you follow me there’s a speciality
Some tears for you to see
Misery, misery,
Roll up! roll up! roll up!See the show!
Next upon the bill in our house of vaudeville
We’ve a stripper in a till
What a thrill! what a thrill!
And not content with that,
with our hands behind our backs,
We pull jesus from a hat,
Get into that! get into that!
Roll up! roll up! roll up!See the show!
Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
We’re so glad you could attend
Come inside! come inside!
There behind a glass is a real blade of grass
Be careful as you pass.
Move along! move along!
Come inside, the show’s about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart
Rest assured you’ll get your money’s worth
The greatest show in heaven, hell or earth.
You’ve got to see the show, it’s a dynamo.
You’ve got to see the show, it’s rock and roll
....Soon the gypsy queen in a glaze of vaseline
Will perform on guillotine
What a scene! what a scene!
Next upon the stand will you please extend a hand
To Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Roll up! roll up! roll up!See the show!
Performing on a stool we’ve a sight to make you drool
Seven virgins and a mule
Keep it cool. keep it cool.
We would like it to be known the exhibits that were shown
Were exclusively our own,
All our own. all our own.
Come and see the show! come and see the show!
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