White Hammer lyrics

In the year 1486 the Malleus first appeared,

Designed to kill all witchcraft and end the papal fears:

Prescribing tortures to kill the Black Arts;

And the Hammer struck hard.

Malleus Maleficarum slaughtered and tortured

All those under suspicion, as the Inquisistion ordered

Burning black hearts and innocents alike,

Killing the mad;

Such was the power the Hammer had.

Though Hexenhammer was intended to slay only evil,

Fear and anger against magic overspilled:

They also killed those of the White.

So for two centuries and more they tried to slay

Both the Black and the White Arts -

But spirits override pain.

For every one that the torture took,

Two were hid secure,

And so the craft, yes, it endured.

Love and hate lived on in the face of fear,

Hexenhammer's force died,

And the real power became clear.

White Hammer no more is beaten;

Now it begins to beat,

And the Grey, once oppressor,

Now, at good hands, faces defeat.

And the Black, too, shall bow down

To the power above;

Black hate beats Grey

But surpreme is

The White Hammer of Love.

• Artist:Van Der Graaf Generator
• Album:The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other 1970