Strike Up The Band

from Two Villanelles by Mark Automaton

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lyrics

Take up your instruments, strike up the band
The autumn days are dark and short and cold
We can do no other, so here we stand

Our lives, as ever, aimless and unplanned
The past is falsely glimmering fool's gold
Take up your instruments, strike up the band

Travelling deep into the hinterland
We see friends and former lovers growing old
We can do no other, so here we stand

Where is the rainbow's end, our promised land?
What manner of untruths have we been told?
Take up your instruments, strike up the band

We are as one, the chosen and the damned
Our hands are bound, they've tightened the blindfold
We can do no other, so here we stand

Don't get me wrong - please don't misunderstand
I didn't mean to leave you unconsoled
Take up your instruments, strike up the band
I can do no other, so here I stand

credits

from Two Villanelles, released January 4, 2019
Words & Music: Mark Automaton

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Mark Automaton UK

Mark Automaton came to prominence as a founding member of the seminal “cassette culture” band the Instant Automatons, who were instrumental in spearheading the UK DIY music scene of the late 70s and early 80s.
Since then, Mark has been active as a producer, musical collaborator and solo artist, releasing music under his own name and also as 391 and randomk/automata.
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