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Asylum Lyrics
Jimmy Cream was keen, his brain was always winnin',
I can't keep tabs on mine, it's really quite a joke
I see him down the road, I ask if he'd be willing
To lend me 15p - I'm dying for a smoke
Don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum
I'm just as sane as anyone
It's a just a game I play for fun - for fun.
I told em - look! - I said I'm not the way you're thinkin,
Just when I'm down, I'll be a clown, I'll play the fool.
Please don't arrange to have me set to no asylum
It's just a game I play for fun - for fun.
Will he take a sailboat ride?
He is very likely to,
Will he feel good inside?
He ain't very likely to,
Will he tell you he's alive?
He is always trying to
But nothin', no nothin', does he say
In the morning when the day's begun
- "Hello Good morning, how are you?"
And in the evening or the noonday sun
- "What a lovely afternoon!"
Well I've been living next to you
Bluesy Monday is the one day that they come here,
When they haunt me and taunt me in my cage.
I mock them all, they're feelin' small, they got no answer
They're playin' dumb but I'm just lauging as they rage
Don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum
It's only a game I play for fun
I've been foolin' everyone - everyone.
Will he take a sailboat ride?
He is very likely to
Will he feel good inside?
He ain't ever likely to
Will he tell you he's alive?
He is always tryin' to
But nothin', no nothin' does he ever say
In the morning when the day's begun
- "Do you think it looks like rain"?
And in the evening or the noonday sun
- "You know I nearly missed my train"
Well I've been living next to you my friend
But what kind of friend are you?
Is it the beginning or the sorry end?
Will I ever see it through?
I've never been insane
Oh what's the game?
I believe I'm dying...
He's mad, mad, mad...
Not quite right...
Oooooooooo..............
I can't keep tabs on mine, it's really quite a joke
I see him down the road, I ask if he'd be willing
To lend me 15p - I'm dying for a smoke
Don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum
I'm just as sane as anyone
It's a just a game I play for fun - for fun.
I told em - look! - I said I'm not the way you're thinkin,
Just when I'm down, I'll be a clown, I'll play the fool.
Please don't arrange to have me set to no asylum
It's just a game I play for fun - for fun.
Will he take a sailboat ride?
He is very likely to,
Will he feel good inside?
He ain't very likely to,
Will he tell you he's alive?
He is always trying to
But nothin', no nothin', does he say
In the morning when the day's begun
- "Hello Good morning, how are you?"
And in the evening or the noonday sun
- "What a lovely afternoon!"
Well I've been living next to you
When they haunt me and taunt me in my cage.
I mock them all, they're feelin' small, they got no answer
They're playin' dumb but I'm just lauging as they rage
Don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum
It's only a game I play for fun
I've been foolin' everyone - everyone.
Will he take a sailboat ride?
He is very likely to
Will he feel good inside?
He ain't ever likely to
Will he tell you he's alive?
He is always tryin' to
But nothin', no nothin' does he ever say
In the morning when the day's begun
- "Do you think it looks like rain"?
And in the evening or the noonday sun
- "You know I nearly missed my train"
Well I've been living next to you my friend
But what kind of friend are you?
Is it the beginning or the sorry end?
Will I ever see it through?
I've never been insane
Oh what's the game?
I believe I'm dying...
He's mad, mad, mad...
Not quite right...
Oooooooooo..............
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Note the cuckoo sound at the end referencing to the novel ( not the movie since it came out a year later ).
@Ex Abrupto The recording engineering was in a very poor state. That Supertramp would avoid repeating over and over and over is amazing and took lot's of faith. They did jam, but would get in and out quick. My older brother actually bought a version of King Crimson's first album "In the Court of the Crimson King" not in Stereo, but in the prior Mono format. Great interpretation of where the song originated. A Clockwork Orange. C
@Ex Abrupto The recording engineering was in a very poor state. That Supertramp would avoid repeating over and over and over is amazing and took lot's of faith. They did jam, but would get in and out quick. My older brother actually bought a version of King Crimson's first album "In the Court of the Crimson King" not in Stereo, but in the prior Mono format. Great interpretation of where the song originated. A Clockwork Orange. C
hmm, it seems to me he has a split personality. like when roger sings, maybe thats the voice in his head,... also: "Well I've been living next to you my friend" "no nothin' does he ever say" "But what kind of friend are you?"
makes sence to me
@sdrawkcab88 I've always felt that the progression in Hide in Your Shell went too far actually providing a third part conclusion to the song where none was needed. I mean how does one follow that up without it being anti-climactic? Asylum was the perfect follow up. It's like Rick is rebelling against Roger's prior interpretation of Christ being crucified with a heavy metal pushing up of the progression to the point of insanity. Supertramp always liked to follow the first verse with a variance of more complex playing along with new additions of instruments.
@sdrawkcab88 I've always felt that the progression in Hide in Your Shell went too far actually providing a third part conclusion to the song where none was needed. I mean how does one follow that up without it being anti-climactic? Asylum was the perfect follow up. It's like Rick is rebelling against Roger's prior interpretation of Christ being crucified with a heavy metal pushing up of the progression to the point of insanity. Supertramp always liked to follow the first verse with a variance of more complex playing along with new additions of instruments.
I love the ending. "He's mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, ....NOT QUITE RIGHT!
Haha, i've just noticed that 'Not quite right' is a contrast to 'Bloody Well Right's : "Right? Quite Right!"
what the... when I submitted this song it got turned down.
Anyway, great song, music reflects the atmosphere very well. lyrics very poignant.
and why hasn't anyone commented yet?
The character is going mad. It's difficult to say what brings on the state, but the previous song on the album gives some pretty strong clues.
Many of the elements of the song can be explained as references to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
"Will he take a sailboat ride?"
The principle character takes the ward on a deep sea fishing trip in one part.
Will he take a sailboat ride..... will he pop off and go crazy???
He's gone "sailing", lol very imaginative lyrics.
It's like I wrote this song too.
@pirate87 This song introduces an orchestration of strings in it as the conclusion to the A-side. Before this time, because of the top-10 formats used in radio, B-backsides to records were just considered trash and ignored.
@pirate87 This song introduces an orchestration of strings in it as the conclusion to the A-side. Before this time, because of the top-10 formats used in radio, B-backsides to records were just considered trash and ignored.
I have come to realize that this song is in reference to the most obvious and sophisticated pleasure involving getting it up the rump for fun.
Please don't send me to no asylum It's just a game I play for fun