Thick as a Brick

chords:                                  e-|--2-----2-----0-----5-----5-----------------2-----0-----   B-|--3-----3-----3-----6-----6-----6-----------3-----1-----   G-|--2-----2-----0-----5-----5-----0-----0-----2-----2-----   D-|--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----2-----   A-|--------4-----2-----0-----7-----5-----3-----------0-----   E-|--------------3-----------------------------------------                                e-|--0-----0--------3-----0-----0-----0-----0-----3--   B-|--0-----3--------3-----2-----3-----1-----0-----0--   G-|--2-----0--------2-----2-----2-----0-----0-----0--   D-|--2-----0--------0-----2-----2-----2-----2-----0--   A-|--0--------------------0-----0-----3-----2-----2--   E-|-----------------------------------------0-----3--              {1  {3  {4 {5 {6  {7  {8   e-|--2-----2-----1-----3-----4-----5-----6-----7-----8-----   B-|--3-----2-----3-----5-----6-----7-----8-----9----10-----   G-|--4-----3-----3-----5-----6-----7-----8-----9----10-----   D-|--4-----4-----3-----5-----6-----7-----8-----9----10-----   A-|--------------1-----3-----4-----5-----6-----7-----8-----   E-|--------------1-----3-----4-----5-----6-----7-----8-----                               e-|--0-----2-----3-----2-----0-----0-----1-----1-----1-----   B-|--0-----3-----1-----4-----0-----1-----3-----1-----4-----   G-|--0-----2-----2-----4-----0-----0-----3-----3-----3-----   D-|--2-----3-----2-----4-----0-----2-----3-----3-----3-----   A-|--3-----------0-----------0-----3-----------------------   E-|--------------------------0-----3-----------------------               e-|--1-----0-----   B-|--2-----0-----   G-|--1-----1-----   D-|--3-----2-----   A-|--------2-----   E-|--------0-----   Really don’t mind if you sit this one out.                   My words but a whisper -- your deafness a SHOUT.                 I may make you feel but I can’t make you think.                 Your sperm’s in the gutter -- your love’s in the sink.                     So you ride yourselves over the fields                   and you make all your animal deals                    and your wise men don’t know how it feels                                                      to be thick as a brick.                                                   And the sand-castle virtues are all swept away                   in the tidal destruction   the moral melee.                   The elastic retreat rings the close of play                   as the last wave uncovers   the newfangled way.                   But your new shoes are worn at the heels                    and your suntan does rapidly peel                 and your wise men don’t know how it feels                                                      to be thick as a brick.                                                And the love that I feel        is so far away:    I’m a bad dream that I just had today --    and you shake your head     and say it’s a shame.                          Spin me back down the years    and the days         of my youth.           Draw the lace and black curtains   and shut out           the whole truth.     Spin me down the long ages: let them sing the song.                    > > 5/0 5/2 5/3 5/2 5/3 4/0 6/3 5/2   electric riff repeats      A   B   C   B   C   D   G   B  }   See   there!  A son is born --   and we pronounce him   fit to fight.   There are black-heads on his shoulders   and he pees himself in the night.                {3        {5   We’ll make a man of him              {7   {5 {8 {7   put him to trade   {3              {5   teach him to play Monopoly and                  {7 {7 {5 {8   to sing in the rain.                  {5 {5 {3 {6                {3 {3 {1 {4                  {1   (organ solo)   Am>D>G    Am>D>G      Am>D>G                  (forte)                 {3 {5 {7 {5 {8 {7   {3 {5 {7 {5 {8 {7   {5 {8 {7   {5 {8 {7   {5 {8 {7   {5 {8 {7   {5 {8       (hold dischord)   {7    {7    >E/u> >E/u> The Poet and the painter casting shadows on the water --   as the sun plays on the infantry returning from the sea.   The do-er and the thinker: no allowance for the other --   as the failing light illuminates the mercenary’s creed.   The home fire burning: the kettle almost boiling --   but the master of the house is far away.    The horses stamping -- their warm breath clouding   in the sharp and frosty morning of the day.    And the poet lifts his pen while the soldier sheaths his sword.   And the youngest of the family is moving with authority.   Building castles by the sea he dares the tardy   tide   to wash them all aside.   (7:14 - solos)      (44X)   (9:13)   {7   {7    The cattle quietly grazing at the grass down by the river   where the swelling mountain water moves onward to the sea:   the builder of the castles renews the age-old purpose   and contemplates the milking girl whose offer is his need.   The young men of the household have   all gone into service and   are not to be expected for a year.    The innocent young master -- thoughts moving ever faster --   has formed the plan to change the man he seems. And the poet sheaths his pen   while the soldier lifts his sword.   And the oldest of the family is moving with authority.   Coming from across the sea he challenges the son   who puts him to the run.                                      /u>/u> (10:30)                                                            What do you do when   the old man’s gone -- do you want to be him?  And   your real self sings the song.   Do you want to free him?   No one to help you get up steam --   and the whirlpool turns you `way off-beam.