Requiem lyrics

Well, I saw a bird today

Flying from a bush,

And the wind blew it away.

And the black-eyed mother sun

Scorched the butterfly at play,

Velvet veined. I saw it burn.

With a wintry storm-blown sigh,

A silver cloud blew right on by.

And, taking in the morning, I sang

O, Requiem.

Well, my lady told me: "Stay."

I looked aside and walked away

Along the Strand.

But I didn't say a word,

As the train time-table blurred

Close behind the taxi stand.

Saw her face in the tear-drop black cab window,

Fading into the traffic, - watched her go,

And taking in the morning, heard myself singing:

O, Requiem,

Here I go again.

It's the same old story.

Well, I saw a bird today

I looked aside and walked away

Along the Strand.

• Artist:Jethro Tull
• Album:Minstrel in the Gallery (1975)