song written by Dave Cousins
DGD
Is it the painter or the picture
EmD
Hanging in the gallery?
EmD
Admired by countless thousands
EmD
Who attempt to read the secrets
GA
Of his vision of his very soul.
GD
Is it the painter or the picture
EmD
Hanging in the gallery?
EmD
Or is it but a still life
EmD
Of his own interpretation
EmD
Of the way that God had made us
GAD
In the image of His eye?
GD
Is it the sculptor or the sculpture
EmD
standing in the gallery?
EmD
Touched by fleeting strangers
EmD
Who desire to feel the strength of hands
GA
That realised a form of life.
GD
Is it the sculptor or the sculpture
EmD
standing in the gallery?
EmD
Or is it but the tenderness
EmD
With which his hands were guided
EmD
To discard the unessentials
GAD
And reveal the perfect truth?
GD
Is it the actor or the drama
EmD
Playing to the gallery?
EmD
Heard in every corner
EmD
Of the theatre of cruelty\par
GA
That masks the humour in his speech.
GD
Is it the actor or the drama
EmD
Playing to the gallery?
EmD
Or is it but the character
EmDEm
Of any single member of the audience
D
That forms the plot
GAD
Of each and every play?
GD
Is it the singer or his likeness
EmD
Hanging in the gallery?
EmD
Tongue black, still and swollen,
EmD
His eyes staring from their sockets,
GA
He is silent now, will sing no more.
GD
Is it the singer or his likeness
EmD
Hanging in the gallery?
EmD
Or is it but his conscience,
EmD
Insecurity, and loneliness,
EmD
When destiny becomes at last
GDAD
The cause of his demise?