Lyrics - Victor by Victor

(
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 familyname.'
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
Countiesbank.
It was a frosty
December
Victor was only eighteen.
But his figures were neat and his margins straight and his cuffs werealways clean.
He took a room at the
Peveril, a respectableboarding-house:
And
Timewatched
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 menaflame.
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 neverwed':
The second time there was a pause, then she shook her head.
Annalooked at the mirror, pouted and gave a frown;
Said;'
Victor's as dullas 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'sdesire.'
They married early in
August, she said;'
Kiss me, you funnyboy':
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:'
Areyou in
Heaven,
Father ?', but the sky said'
Address not known.'
Victor looked up at the mountains, the mountains all covered withsnow;
Cried:'
Are you pleased with me,
Father ?' and the answer cameback,
No.
Victor came to the forest, cried:'
Father, will she ever betrue ?'
And the oaks and the beeches shook their heads and theyanswered:'
Not to you.'
Victor came to the meadow where the wind wentsweeping by:
Cried:'
O
Father,
I love her so,' but the wind said:'
Shemust die.'
Victor came to the river running so deep and so still;
Crying:'
O
Father, what shall
I do ?' and the river answered:'
Kill.'
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'theard.
There was a voice in his left ear, there was a voice in theright,
There was a voice at the base of his skull saying:'
She must dietonight.'
Victor picked up a carving knife, his features were set anddrawn,
Said;'
Anna, it would have been better for you if you had notbeen 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
Resurrectionand the
Life.'
They tapped
Victor on the shoulder, they took him awayin 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.'

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