Voices of a Distant Star

It’s lonely in the garden here, there’s no one but the cat.
There’s nothing but the footsteps and you’ve had enough of that.
You know they’re out to get you now, you know they’re on your case.
It’s starting to unwind, you know they’re bound to play the ace.
            There’s a whiff of desolation in the air, in the air.
            There’s a whiff of desolation in the air.

It’s lonely in the garden here, there’s no one but the snails
Criss-crossing in the darkness leaving phosphorescent trails.
You know they’ll never let you go; you’re just a waste of space.
They’re out to rob you blind, you know they’re barely off the pace.
            There’s a flittermouse entangled in your hair, in your hair.
            There’s a flittermouse entangled in your hair.

It’s lonely in the city here, there’s nothing but the stones,
The echoes in the shadows and the rattle of the bones.
You plead to Heaven for succour and you cry to God for grace.
It’s something in your mind, you know its insolent embrace.
            There’s a screaming like a rabbit in a snare, in a snare.
            There’s a screaming like a rabbit in a snare.

It’s lonely in the city here, there’s nothing but the tombs.
You give an inch, they take a yard: they’re in your sitting rooms.
You don’t trust any bugger, or you’re gone without a trace.
They’re never far behind, you know they’re cutting to the chase.
             There’s a humming like a hypocrite at prayer, horrid prayer.
             There’s a humming like a hypocrite at prayer.

It’s lonely in the universe, there’s nothing but the stars;
They hum about their courses like celestial trolley cars.
There isn’t any time, they said, there isn’t any place.
They’re scarcely humankind, you know they’re from another race.
            There’s a shadow at the elbow of the stair, of the stair,
            There’s a shadow at the elbow of the stair.

It’s lonely in the universe, there’s nothing but the God.
I knew him when his brother was a crawling chilopod.
You know the voices in your head, you know the heart’s grimace,
The footsteps in your mind, you know you’ll soon be face to face.
            There’s an overarching darkness everywhere, everywhere.
            There’s an overarching darkness everywhere.