Van Der Graaf Generator ( I1 )

Van der Graaf Generator - Lemmings ( including Cog ) ( L2 )

[Verse 1]
I stood alone upon the highest cliff-top
Looked down, around, and all that I could see
Were those that I would dearly love to share with
Crashing on quite blindly to the sea

[Pre Chorus]
I tried to ask what game this was
But knew I would not play it
The voice, as one, as no-one, came to me

[Chorus 1]
We have looked upon the heroes
And they are found wanting
We have looked hard across the land
But we can see no dawn
We have now dared to sear the sky
But we are still bleeding
We are drawing near to the cliffs
Now we can hear the call

[Post Chorus 1]

The clouds are piled in mountain-shapes
There is no escape except to go forward
Don't ask us for an answer now
It's far too late to bow to that convention

What course is there left but to die?

[Chorus 2]
We have looked upon the high kings
Found them less than mortals
Their names are dust before the just
March of our young, new law
Minds stumbling strong, we hurtle on
Into the dark portal
No-one can halt our final vault
Into the unknown maw

[Post Chorus 2]
And as the elders beat their brows
They know that it's really far too late now
To stop us
For if the sky is seeded death
What is the point in catching breath?
Expel it

What cause is there left but to die?
In searching of something we're not quite sure of?

What cause is there left but to die?
What cause is there left but to die?

What cause is there left but to die?
I really don't know why[Bridge]
I know our ends may be soon
But why do you make them sooner?
Time may finally prove
Only the living move her and
No life lies in the quicksand

Aaah
Aaah

[Instrumental]

[Verse 4]
Yes, I know it's
Out of control, out of control
Greasy machinery slides on the rails
Young minds and bodies on steel spokes impaled

Cogs tearing bones, cogs tearing bones
Iron-throated monsters are forcing the screams
Mind and machinery box-press our dreams

But there still is time

[Instrumental]
[Chorus 3]
Cowards are they who run today
The fight is beginning
No war with knives, fight with our lives
Lemmings can teach nothing
Death offers no hope, we must grope
For the unknown answer
Unite our blood, abate the flood
Avert the disaster

[Post Chorus 3]

There's other ways than screaming in the mob
That makes us merely cogs of hatred
Look to the why and where we are
Look to yourselves and the stars and in the end

[Outro]
What choice is there left but to live?
In the hope of saving
Our children's children's little ones?

What choice is there left but to live?
What choice is there left but to live?
What choice is there left but to live?To save the little ones?

What choice is there left but to try?
What choice is there left but to try?
What choice is there left but to try?
Try

Van Der Graaf Generator - A Place to Survive ( L1 )

It's easy to say, when you're so down,
That everything's pointless;
Your eyes burn, your ears howl,
Your limbs are disjointed.
Barren fields, the barren earth, never more will it flower.
Rub your face and your hands in the dirt:
Now is the hour!
So stand straight, looking over your shoulder;
Walk on, though you fear to arrive;
Don't wait till you know that it's over,
Be strong - it's your place to survive.

While the holocaust rages around you,
Be the eye of the storm;
Though the extent of disaster astounds you,
Forearmed is forewarned.
You may have passed time in happier ways,
But there are other mountains to climb:
You've never lived as you're living today -
Now is the time!
Stand straight, though your back breaks from trying,
Walk on - even now you must strive.
Don't wait - while you're waiting, you're dying;
Be strong, it's your place to survive.

The universe is doubtless
Unfolding just exactly as it should
And these dreams of remorse or foreboding
Just won't do you any good.
The joy, the passion, possessions you own,
The bitterness and the pain,

The end of everything you've ever known...
All these are ordained.
Stand straight looking into the future,
Walk on - we've each got our own lives.
Don't wait for a guru or tutor,
Be strong - it's your place to survive.
Stand straight, looking over your shoulder,
Walk on: though it hurts, you're alive.
Don't wait... If you wait it's all over;
Be strong - it's your right to survive.

Istoric ( 65 )

05.11.1948 - s-a nascut Peter Hammill – Van Der Graff Generator.

Van der Graaf Generator - The Aerosol Grey Machine ( D1 )

The Aerosol Grey Machine is the debut studio album by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1969 by record label Mercury.

Content

The album was originally intended as a solo album by the band's lead singer and main songwriter, Peter Hammill. When the band signed with Charisma Records, a deal was worked out whereby The Aerosol Grey Machine would be released under the Van der Graaf Generator name, in return for Mercury Records releasing Hammill from his earlier contract with it.

Release

The Aerosol Grey Machine was released in September 1969 by record label Mercury. The initial edition contained the song "Giant Squid", later pressings removed this track and replaced it with the single b-side "Necromancer".

The album was reissued on CD in 1997 by the German company Repertoire Records, using the second-edition running order of the album and featuring the first single as bonus tracks. Another 1997 release, by Peter Hammill's own UK record label FIE! Records utilizes the original running order (taken from the original master tape) and adds the "Necromancer" b-side as a bonus track, along with a previously unreleased early version of "Ferret and Featherbird".

Reception

In his retrospective review, Steven McDonald of AllMusic called it "A raw, energetic effort that sometimes did little to show off the young Hammill's talents" that "nevertheless has some fine moments that hint at the possibilities for future releases".

Track listing

All tracks written by Peter Hammill, except as indicated.

Side A
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Afterwards"		4:55
2.	"Orthenthian St (Parts I & II)"		6:18
3.	"Running Back"		6:35
4.	"Into a Game"	Hammill, Hugh Banton, Keith Ellis, Guy Evans	6:57

Side B
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Aerosol Grey Machine"		0:47
2.	"Black Smoke Yen"	Banton, Ellis, Evans	1:26
3.	"Aquarian"		8:22
4.	"Giant Squid (replaced with "Necromancer" on later pressings)"	Hammill, Banton, Ellis, Evans	3:20
5.	"Octopus" Personnel Van der Graaf Generator Peter Hammill – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Hugh Banton – organ, backing vocals, piano, percussion Keith Ellis – bass Guy Evans – drums, percussion Chris Judge Smith – slide-saxophone and harmony vocals on "People You Were Going To", chorus vocals on "Firebrand" Additional personnel Jeff Peach – flute on "Running Back"