Mike Keating - Dartington 2004 lyrics

Y'r man Ludwig had a nerve. Believing the absurd, That one man constrained by time Using one pen and five lines Could blow the greatest safe of all. Best cracksman in the trade, so I'd heard, And a gentleman - well, that is absurd! But Leaving the master key hidden in dots For two hundred years takes a certain cheek. Sure, I'd seen him work before. Circling the citadel, tunnelling deep and rattling doors. Spinning every dial For the one hit that would spring the final lock Although I'd seen him cut keys, Placing them amongst the clefs I'd ignored them. Thought his style too refined. His material inclined to break against force; Perhaps to melt in heat. We met again at Dartington in 04 Him drifting in on a gentle trill. Smart-suited, Cool as cheese. Perfectly at ease, Unboxing and unleashing his tools through the violins Watching content as jemmy, conductor, chisel Went to work with a will Prising and forcing the bricks and boards of the ancient hall Busily burrowing through the walls. Yet with the sound swelling, inflamed by the evening sun reddening the room He decided on a stronger attack. So, glancing at me, smiling and touching his hat He crouched low Growing to an unshapen ma** of fur and fury Whirling repeatedly against the weakening walls. The floor buckling, stone crumbling, dissolving. And, for encore, Tearing away the dam with tooth and claw. In the strongest light. the brightest force Flooding the old hall, Myself and the others bobbed helpless in the swell. More man than animal He climbed out and stood on the shore Tipped his hat And, smiling brightly with shortening teeth, Strode up towards the hills. Dropping his claws, languidly, into the score. The tide turned and all settled still. But beached in tiny pools, remained some; Floating on a small sense of what they might yet become.