Lemmings (Including Cog)
| Title | Lemmings (Including Cog) |
|---|---|
| Artist | Van der Graaf Generator |
| Album | I Prophesy Disaster |
| Release Date | October 1971 |
| Description | As the opening track on Pawn Hearts, ‘Lemmings’ sets the tone for the rest of the album; more experimental, more ambitious and less commercial than Van Der Graaf Generator’s previous work. The title refers to the tendency of human society towards collective stupidity and self destruction, like the stereotype of lemmings running mindlessly off a cliff edge. The vagueness of the metaphor allows it to function as a critique of environmental abuse, populist politics, the naïveté of youth, religious cults and mob mentality in general. The lyrics themselves alternate between two perspectives; the collective voice of a determined young mob and the lone voice of a sceptic observing their destructive behaviour. Equally, it could be just one individual wrestling with these conflicting viewpoints. Either way, shifts in tempo and instrumentation serve to underline the contrast. The first section describes the narrator’s despair in the face of this reckless conformity and a sense that he is powerless to prevent the impending disaster. The middle features two instrumentals and the ‘Cog’ section mentioned in the track title. At this point, violent and nightmarish imagery is used to portray the awful future which lies in store if sensible people abandon hope and let the ‘lemmings’ have their way. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. John Stuart Mill, 1867 The final section switches up the format; whereas the first two choruses give voice to the ‘lemmings’ and their cause, the last expresses the narrator’s resolve to be a good, responsible person and not be sucked into the cycle of destruction. The song ends with the hope that such people will do whatever small things they can to make the world a better place for their “children’s children’s little ones”. |
| Lyrics | [Intro] I stood alone upon the highest cliff-top Looked down, around, and all that I could see Were those that I would dearly love to share with Crashing on quite blindly to the sea I tried to ask what game this was But knew I would not play it The voice, as one, as no-one, came to me [Chorus] We have looked upon the heroes And they are found wanting We have looked hard across the land But we can see no dawn We have now dared to sear the sky But we are still bleeding We are drawing near to the cliffs Now we can hear the call [Verse 1] The clouds are piled in mountain-shapes There is no escape except to go forward Don't ask us for an answer now It's far too late to bow to that convention What course is there left but to die? [Chorus] We have looked upon the high kings Found them less than mortals Their names are dust before the just March of our young, new law Minds stumbling strong, we hurtle on Into the dark portal No-one can halt our final vault Into the unknown maw [Verse 2] And as the elders beat their brows They know that it's really far too late now to stop us For if the sky is seeded death What is the point in catching breath? Expel it What cause is there left but to die In search of something we're really not too sure of? What cause is there left but to die? What cause is there left but to die? What cause is there left but to die? I really don't know why You might also like[Instrumental Break] [Interlude] I know our ends may be soon But why do you make them sooner? Time may finally prove Only the living move her and No life lies in the quicksand [Bridge] Aaah! Aaah! [Segue] [Verse 3] Yes, I know it's out of control, out of control! Greasy machinery slides on the rails Young minds and bodies on steel spokes impaled [Verse 4] Cogs tearing bones, cogs tearing bones! Iron-throated monsters are forcing the screams Mind and machinery box-press our dreams [Outro] But there still is time [Segue] [Chorus] Cowards are they who run today The fight is beginning No war with knives, fight with our lives Lemmings can teach nothing Death offers no hope, we must grope For the unknown answer Unite our blood, abate the flood Avert the disaster [Verse 5] There's other ways than screaming in the mob That makes us merely cogs of hatred Look to the why and where we are Look to yourselves and the stars and in the end What choice is there left but to live In the hope of saving our children's children's little ones? What choice is there left but to live What choice is there left but to live What choice is there left but to live To save the little ones? What choice is there left but to try? What choice is there left but to try? What choice is there left but to try? (Try) |