Thick as a Brick (Pt. I) [1997 Remaster]

And the youngest of the family

is moving with authority

Building castles by the sea

he dares the tardy tide

to wash them all aside

The cattle quietly grazing

at the grass down by the river

where the swelling mountain water

moves onward to the sea

The builder of the castles

renews the age-old purpose

and contemplates the milking girl

whose offer is his need

The young men of the household

have all gone into service

and are not to be expected for a year

The innocent young master

thoughts moving ever faster

has formed the plan to change the man he seems

And the poet sheaths his pen

while the soldier lifts his sword

And the oldest of the family

is moving with authority

coming from across the sea

he challenges the son

who puts him to the run

What do you do when the old man's gone

do you want to be him?

And your real self sings the song

Do you want to free him?

No one to help you get up steam

and the whirlpool turns you 'way off-beam

I've come down from the upper class

to mend your rotten ways

My father was a man-of-power

whom everyone obeyed

So come on all you criminals!

I've got to put you straight

just like I did with my old man

twenty years too late

Your bread and water's going cold

Your hair is too short and neat

I'll judge you all and make damn sure

that no-one judges me

You curl your toes in fun

as you smile at everyone

you meet the stares

you're unaware that your doings aren't done

And you laugh most ruthlessly

as you tell us what not to be

But how are we supposed

to see where we should run?

I see you shuffle in the courtroom

with your rings upon your fingers

and your downy little sidies

and your silver-buckle shoes.

Playing at the hard case,

you follow the example

of the comic-paper idol

who lets you bend the rules.

So!

Come on ye childhood heroes!

Won't you rise up from the pages

of your comic-books

your super crooks

and show us all the way

Well! Make your will and testament

Won't you? Join your local government

We'll have Superman for president

let Robin save the day

You put your bet on number one

and it comes up every time

The other kids have all backed down

and they put you first in line

And so you finally ask yourself

just how big you are

and take your place in a wiser world

of bigger motor cars

And you wonder who to call on

So! Where the hell was Biggles

when you needed him last Saturday?

And where were all the sportsmen

who always pulled you though?

They're all resting down in Cornwall

writing up their memoirs

for a paper-back edition

of the Boy Scout Manual