Playlist Addition - Re: TPPM (9): The Virtue of Idleness

[Keith McMullen]

Semaphore by David Thomas

Busy-ness is better than idleness

Here is a story that's sad but true
About a fellow who lives in a shoe
The lure of a task he cannot resist
And there's never quite enough to do

My hands are complicated, complicated thoughts
My thoughts are complicated too
My hands are busy days
My hands like busy days, they don't like holidays

Here is the dread & the weightlessness
That comes where there is nothing to do
And who has not heard of the Hesperus
Helpless, awash & askew?

Busy-ness or Idleness?

It's a flurry of awkwardnesses
That signals the lack of a clue
Monstrous indeed are the consequences
When there's never quite enough to do

My hands are complicated
What me prevaricate?
Why, you know the consequence of not enough to do!
My hands are Katzenjammers
Little kids, big hammers
My hands are Katzenjammers
Grown men stare & stammer

Busy-ness is better than idleness

My hands articulated complicated thoughts
My thoughts are complicated, complicated too
My hands are semaphores
Some semaphores are paradoxes
My hands are semaphores
Some semaphores are... ha!

Writers:
Thomas-Cutler-Cooper-Monck
© 1983 Bug Music / Arcades Music
Lyrics by David Thomas