Victor

Victor

Released: January 9th, 1996
Highest Billboard Chart Position: 99

Alex Lifeson - Guitar, bass, mandola, keyboards, programming, vocals, yelling
Edwin - Vocals
Bill Bell: Black Hole guitar, twelve-string guitar, guitar, E-Bow, wah guitar, slide guitar, wobble, background vocals
Blake Manning: Drums, darbuka
Dalbello: Vocals (Track 3)
Peter Cardinali: Bass (Tracks 4, 7 & 10)
Adrian Zivojinovich: Programming (Tracks 5 & 9)
Les Claypool: Bass (Track 9)
Colleen Allen: Horns (Track 10)

Produced by Alex Lifeson

Recorded by Alex Lifeson
At Lerxst Sound, Oct. 1994 - July 1995, Assisted by Bill Bell
Mixed by Alex Lifeson
At McClear Pathe, Toronto, Assisted by Denis Tougas
Arrangements by Alex Lifeson

Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine
Management by Ray Danniels, SRO, Toronto
Executive Production by Lerxst

Art Direction by Andrew MacNaughtan
Photography by Andrew MacNaughtan
Design by Megan Oldfield, Coolaide Design

Edwin appears courtesy of Capital Records, Inc.
Dalbello appears courtesy of EMI Electrola Gmbh., Germany
Les Claypool appears courtesy of Interscope Records, Inc.

Special thanks to nobody in particular.

Grateful acknowledgements for the technical assistance of Coll Audio, Saved by Technology, P.R.S. Guitars, Zurba, DOD Digitech, Dean Markley Strings, and of course, The Omega Concern.

Dedicated to Charlene for her inspiration, spirit and loving support.

In Memory of Randy Knox

© 1996 Atlantic Records © 1996 Anthem Entertainment

Don't Care

Lyrics and Music by Alex Lifeson

Shut up and turn off the light
I'll take you deep right through the night
Just leave before you're in my sight
Cause don't need another fight
And I don't need your sympathy
You'll get no tender love from me
Kneel before me on your knee
Do it hard-make me free
Do it hard-make me free
Do it-make me free
Do it hard-make me free

Don't want your pity
Don't want your care
Don't care for giving
Don't care for fair
Don't want your kindness
Don't want your heart
Don't care for wanting
Don't care for smart

I'll come to you from behind
You know my touch will not be kind
You'll feel my loveless power bind
No feelings here that you can find
Between your legs I will lay
On your back you better stay
I'm gonna fuck you night and day
Do it hard-make me pay
Do it hard-make me pay
Do it hard-make me pay
Do it hard-make me pay
Do it hard

Don't want your pity
Don't want your care
Don't care for giving
Don't care for fair
Don't want your kindness
Don't want your heart
Don't care for wanting
Don't care for smart

I don't need your sympathy
You'll get no tender love from me
Just kneel before me on your knee
Do it hard-make me free
Do it hard-make me free
Do it hard-please make me free

Promise

Lyrics by Alex Lifeson, Music by Alex Lifeson and Bill Bell

One more glass
A million more days
One more smoke
Release me from my ways

Break the mold
Break your back
Break the promise you made
Seek the world now
Don't look back
Make your promise today
Leave the safety
Leave this life
Leave before it's too late
It's your only chance
Don't pretend romance
Keep the new promise you made

What if I wasn't so scared?
Why can't I be brave?
I've forgotten all that we shared
You can't give me what I crave

One more glass
Take another pill
One more day
I feel like I could kill

What if you let me walk away?
You think it's me who needs to be saved
Your life a tragic, self-centered play
You never gave me what I craved

What I want
You can never give
What you want
My dead life to live

Break the mold
Break your back
Break the promise you made
Seek the world now
Don't look back
Make your promise today
Leave the safety
Leave this life
Leave before it's too late
It's your only chance
Don't pretend romance
Keep the new promise you made

Break the mold
Break your back
Break the promise you made
Leave the safety
Leave this life
Leave before it's too late
Seek the world now
Don't look back
Make your promise today

Keep the new promise you made
Keep the new promise you made

Start Today

Lyrics and Music by Alex Lifeson

I need you to hold me tightly in your arms
I need you to show me if I might be wrong
I am pink and you are blue
Can I trust my whole life to you?
Just don't take me for some fool
When I need to depend on you
I am not your part-time job
What you get is what you are

You can hurt like no one can
You're such a child for such a man
You need strength, you need to take a stand
Just stop looking to me for a helping hand
When you're ready I will be here
I can help you to lose your fear
You better stand up on your feet
If you ever want to feel my heat

Clear your mind of those things gone by
You can't change the past, why even try
You can build upon all you've learned
You can start today

No one said it wouldn't be this hard
When you share, prepare to give a lot
Just remember when you look at me
You are you and I am me
When you're ready I will be here
I can help you to lose your fear
You better stand up on your feet
If you ever want to feel my heat

Clear your mind of those things gone by
You can't change the past, why even try
Look ahead, to those better days
Make the effort, it always pays
We can build upon all we've learned
We can start today

Mr. X

Music by Alex Lifeson

Instrumental

At The End

Lyrics by Alex Lifeson, Music by Alex Lifeson and Adrian Zivojinovich

He opens the books-looks at scenes from yesterday
How they laughed and loved and lived before they grew old and grey
Now he sits alone in his room, and the clock ticks away

Together they enjoyed all life's beauty and all it's fears
The lonely cry of his soul falls only on his ears
Each page's photo marked with the stain of his tears

He didn't know what to do
He didn't know what might come
Nothing was all that was left to him
Nothing was left when she was gone

The heart has a memory so strong
It remembers every right and every wrong
On those pages of his long, lonely life
He can only see his wife
He said "Pluck out my eyes"
He said "Plug up my ears"
He said "Silence my tongue"
He said "Take away my empty years"

One last wish
To see her face
One last breath
He's calling out to death
One last look up at the sun
As he picks up the gun
As he steadies the gun
As he finally aims the gun

Sending Out A Warning

Lyrics by Alex Lifeson, Music by Alex Lifeson and Bill Bell

Tender is the nerve that leads straight to his heart
Sender sends the spit that streams down his face
Want and need are just two useless words
The third, if she knew it, would be grace

Her grip is tight as a vice-smothers like a killer, stealing someone's life
His guilt controls his every move-nothing seems to work, what's he got to prove
Their war is just like any war-all the pain for nothing, double bladed sword

Sending out a warning
Sending out a warning
He's on the edge, everything is up or down
She's in his face, he feels like he may drown
Relentless is the scope of her revenge
She'll give then take then push him off the ledge

His guilt is tight as a vice-smothers like a killer, stealing someone's life
Her grip controls his every move-nothing seems to work, what's he got to prove
Their war is just like any war-all the pain for nothing, double bladed sword

Sending out a warning
Sending out a warning
He's on the edge, everything is up or down
She's in his face, he feels like he may drown
Relentless is the scope of her revenge
She'll give then take then push him off the ledge
She's gone too far, he knows her subtle tricks
He's tried too hard, there are some things you can't fix
Cross too many lines, be prepared to pay the price
All the warmth you knew will forever turn to ice

Sending out a warning
Sending out a warning

Shut Up Shuttin' Up

Words by Charlene & Esther, Music by Alex Lifeson and Bill Bell

Instrumental

Strip And Go Naked

Music by Alex Lifeson and Bill Bell

Instrumental

The Big Dance

Lyrics by Alex Lifeson, Music by Alex Lifeson and Adrian Zivojinovich

I've seen so many faces, and always left my mark
I've kissed so many faces, lips smooth, just like a shark
I have no friends, I hope that's understood
I take what I can take, when the taking's good
It's not for love but I'll gladly take your money
I can pretend to be so sad or funny
You'll just love the way I move when I dance
My young hips, they know how to entrance
Nevermind him, he's not here now
It's really not my problem, anyhow

An angel of love to you is what I'll appear
Your lonely ache, I can make, disappear
Yes, take me deep inside so I can heal your pain
No angel of love takes another man's gain

You want to keep me held inside your cage
You best remember, you're twice my age
You think I'll want you with me for evermore
It's only been two weeks, and you're such a bore
I can see you're new to this, you don't know the rules
You're just another one in a long line of fools
Can you be happy for my moment in your life
It doesn't bother you you're someone else's wife

An angel of love is what I may appear
What I really am is really not so clear
I don't live for love, you sticky bitch
All I care about is if you're rich
You decide if you still want to play this game
The price to you for this is nothing will ever be the same

Victor

Words by W.H. Auden, Music by Alex Lifeson

Victor was a little baby, into this world he came;
His father took him on his knee and said; "Don't dishonor the family name."
Victor looked up at his father-looked up with big round eyes:
His Father said; "Victor, my only son, don't you ever tell lies."

It was a frosty December, it wasn't the season for fruits;
His father fell dead of heart disease while lacing up his boots.
It was a frosty December when into the grave he sank;
His uncle found Victor a post as cashier in the Midland 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 respectable boarding-house;
And Time watched Victor day after day as a cat will with a mouse.
Victor went up to his bedroom, set the alarm bell;
Climbed into his bed, took his Bible and read of what happened 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 he 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 smiled and shook her head.
Anna looked into her mirror, pouted and gave a frown;
Said; "Victor's as dull as a wet afternoon but I've got the settle down."
The third time he made his proposal, as they walked by the Reservoir,
She have him a kiss like a blow on the head, said, "You are my heart's desire."
They were 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 mountain, 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 lover 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: "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't heard.
There was a voice in his left ear, there was a voice in his 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 came 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."

I Am The Spirit

Lyrics by Alex Lifeson, Music by Alex Lifeson and Bill Bell

I am the star-filled sky in winter
I am the starry-eyed who stares
I am the cold, grey rock of mountains
I am the one who climbs those stairs
I am-the sea, so calm yet fearsome
I am-the one to seize the chance
I am-the air so pure yet foul
I am-the one who takes a stance
All you have is all there is
All there is, is what you make
All you make is all there is
All for your own sake
I am the building, tall and handsome

I am the builder, the one who cares
I am the painting on the canvas
I am the painter, the one who shares
I am-the trees so strong and silent
I am-the earth, all life to give
I am-the sun, both lover and killer
I am-the child, through you, I live
I have a need for building on tomorrow
I have a need to begin today
I have no time for living some past sorrow
I just want to get on my way
I need to have strength in my conviction
I need to have the final say
I need to make sense in my selection
I just want to get on my way
You only have you
I only have me
You lonely with you
Me lonely with me
You can give it to me
I will take it from you
You'll always have it from me
We'll be always
I am the wind, both warm and freezing
I am the truth, not always fair
I am the clouds, static yet fleeting
I am the heart, a burden to bear
I am-the man for all of the seasons
I am-the boy who never fears
I am-the woman who knows all the reasons
I am-the girl who sheds the tears