Victor - Victor lyrics

(W.H. Auden) Victor was a little baby, into this world he came: His father took him on his knee and said:' Don't dishonour the family name.' Victor looked up at his father- loked up with big round eyes: His father said:' Victor, my only son, don't you ever tell lies.' It was a frosty December, it wsn't the season for fruits; His father fell dead of heart disease while lacing up his boots. It was a frosty December when into his grave he sank; His uncle found Victor a post as a cashier in the Midlands Counties bank. It was a frosty December Victor was only eighteen. But his figures were neat and his margins straight and his cuffs were always clean. He took a room at the Peveril, a respectableboarding-house: And Time watched Victor day after day as a cat willwatch a mouse. Victor went up to his bedroom, set the alarm bell; Climbed into his bed, took his bible and read of happend to Jezebel. It was the First of April, Anna to the Peveril came; Her eyes, her lips, her breasts, her hips and her smile set men aflame. It was the Second of April, she was wearing a coat of fur; Victor met her upon the stairs and fell in love with her. The first time he made his proposal, she laughed, said:' I'll never wed': The second time there was a pause, then she shook her head. Anna looked at the mirror, pouted and gave a frown; Said;'Victor's as dull as a wet afternoon but I've got to settle down.' The third time hemade his proposal, as they walked by the Reservoir, She gave him a kiss like a blowon the head, said,'You are my heart's desire.' They married early in August, she said;'Kiss me, you funny boy': Victor took her in his arms and said:'O my Helen of Troy.' The clerks were talking of Anna, the door was just ajar: One said:'Poor old Victor, but where ignorance is bliss, etcetera.' Victor looked up at the sunset as he stood there all alone; Cried:'Are you in Heaven, Father ?', but the sky said'Address not known.' Victor looked up at the mountains, the mountains all covered with snow; Cried:'Are you pleased with me, Father ?' and the answer came back,No. Victor came to the forest, cried:'Father, will she ever be true ?' And the oaks and the beeches shook their heads and they answered:' Not to you.' Victor came to the meadow where the wind went sweeping by: Cried:' O Father, I love her so,' but the wind said:' She must die.' Victor came to the river running so deep and so still; Crying:' O Father, what shall I do ?' and the river answered:' k**.' Anna was sitting at table, drawing cards from a pack; Anna was sitting at table waiting for her husband to come back. Victor stood in the doorway, he didn't utter a word; She said:'What's the matter, darling ?' he behaved as if he hadn't heard. There was a voice in his left ear, there was a voice in the right, There was a voice at the base of his skull saying:'She must die tonight.' Victor picked up a carving knife, his features were set and drawn, Said;'Anna, it would have been better for you if you had not been born.' Anna jumped up from the table, Anna started to scream, But Victor cam slowly after her like a horror in a dream. She dodged behind the sofa, she tore down a curtain rod, But Victor came slowly after her, said' Prepare to meet Thy God.' He stood there above the body, he stood there holding the knife; And the blood ran down the stairs and sang; ' I am the Resurrection and the Life.' They tapped Victor on the shoulder, they took him away in a van; He sat as quiet as a lump of moss saying; ' I am the Son of Man.' Victor sat in a corner Making a woman of clay. Saying:' I am Alpha and Omega, I shall come To judge the earth one day.'