Ian Anderson - Minstrel in the Gallery lyrics

The minstrel in the gallery Looked down upon the smiling faces He met the gazes observed the spaces Between the old men's cackle He brewed a song of love and hatred Oblique suggestions and he waited He polarized the pumpkin-eaters Static-humming panel-beaters Freshly day-glow'd factory cheaters (salaried and collar-scrubbing) He titillated men-of-action Belly warming, hands still rubbing On the parts they never mention He pacified the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating One-line jokers, T.V. documentary makers (overfed and undertakers) Sunday paper backgammon players Family-scarred and women-haters Then he called the band down to the stage And he looked at all the friends he'd made The minstrel in the gallery Looked down on the rabbit-run And threw away his looking-gla** Saw his face in everyone