This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Colours I've none dark or light, red, white or blue
Cold is my touch (freezing)
Summoned by name, I am the overseer over you
Given this command to watch o'er our miserable sphere
Fallen from grace, called on to bring sun or rain
Occasional corn from my oversight grew
Fell with mine angels from a far better place
Offering services for the saving of face
Now you're here, you may as well admire
All whom living has retired from the benign reconciliation
Legends were born surrounding mysterious lights
Seen in the sky (flashing)
I just lit a fag then took my leave in the blink of an eye
Passionate play join round the maypole in dance
Primitive rite, wrongly
Summoned by name I am the overseer over you
Cold is my touch (freezing)
Summoned by name, I am the overseer over you
Given this command to watch o'er our miserable sphere
Fallen from grace, called on to bring sun or rain
Occasional corn from my oversight grew
Fell with mine angels from a far better place
Offering services for the saving of face
Now you're here, you may as well admire
All whom living has retired from the benign reconciliation
Legends were born surrounding mysterious lights
Seen in the sky (flashing)
I just lit a fag then took my leave in the blink of an eye
Passionate play join round the maypole in dance
Primitive rite, wrongly
Summoned by name I am the overseer over you
Lyrics submitted by Philadelphia Eagles
Passion Play [Edit #8] Lyrics as written by Jeffery Hammond Ian Anderson
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I wrote this for the incomplete song, so I might as well re-post it here:
Traditionally, a passion play is a performance about the life of Jesus Christ. These plays could go for hours over a period of days. During intermissions, a fable would be acted out. "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" fills the role of the fable.
ACT 1 The first half of the song is about a young man named Ronnie Pilgrim who dies. His spirit is allowed to stay on earth for his funeral (most of the attendees show up late). After his funeral, an angel appears and takes Ronnie to the afterlife. Once there, he is taken to a viewing room to be judged. His life is played like a movie, with the projectionist/judge being God, Jesus, or another angel. (The title of the piece is "In the Offices of G. Oddie & Son") Ronnie's achievements are first shown, but he is warned that it's all downhill from there. Ronnie's many shortcomings are then shown. Ronnie attempts to cover for himself, but the judge isn't fooled. The other angels and spiritual being taunt Ronnie at first, but then ask him what it's like to be alive. Ronnie feels all is lost, but the projectionist tells Ronnie he's been accepted. End Act 1
INTERMISSION It's a simple story of a hare who's lost his glasses. All of his animal friends attempt to come up with a solution, however no one ever asks Hare what he thinks the best solution is. The irony is that Hare already has a solution: a spare set of glasses. The moral: don't meddle in other peoples' business without their request. Fun fact: this segment is narrated/sung by bassist Jeffery Hammond-Hammond, not Ian Anderson.
ACT 2 Ronnie is sitting in heaven and is shocked to find it boring. "Well I'll go to the foot of the stairs" is an English expression equivalent to "well I'll be damned." Ronnie walks up to God and begins chewing Him out, stating that Heaven is no place for people. Ronnie decides to try out Hell, thinking that place might be more fun. God, in a loving manner, lets Ronnie go. Ronnie then meets Lucifer, who explains his existence. Ronnie finds Hell even worse (and Lucifer much worse to be around than God) so he looks for another option. He discovers he can be reincarnated. Ronnie takes the option, and the song winds down with his anxious anticipation of being reborn and the extreme pain of the experience. The song ends with the Passion Play starting again, though it never really stopped. End Act 2 and song.
Sounds about right. Well done!