Minstrel in the Gallery
by Jethro Tull
From the album: Original Masters
Track 11 of 12 on Original Masters (1985).
Duration: 4:17
Lyrics for Minstrel in the Gallery
The minstrel in the gallery Looked down upon the smiling faces He met the gazes, observed the spaces Between the old men's cackle He brewed a song of love and hatred Oblique suggestions and he waited He polarized the pumpkin-eaters Static-humming, panel-beaters Freshly day, glowed factory cheaters Salaried and collar-scrubbing He titillated men of action Belly warming, hands still rubbing On the parts they never mention He pacified the nappy-suffering Infant-bleating, one-line jokers TV documentary makers, overfed and undertakers Sunday paper, backgammon players Family-scarred and women-haters Then he called the band down to the stage And he looked at all the friends he'd made The minstrel in the gallery Looked down upon the smiling faces He met the gazes, observed the spaces In-between the old men's cackle And he brewed a song of love and hatred Oblique suggestions and he waited He polarized the pumpkin-eaters Static-humming, panel-beaters The minstrel in the gallery Looked down on the rabbit-run And he threw away his looking-glass He saw his face in everyone He titillated men of action Belly warming, hands still rubbing On the parts they never mention Salaried and collar-scrubbing He pacified the nappy-suffering Infant-bleating, one-line jokers TV documentary makers Overfed and undertakers Sunday paper, backgammon players Family-scarred and women-haters Then he called the band down to the stage And he looked at all the friends he'd made The minstrel in the gallery Looked down on the rabbit-run And threw away his looking-glass He saw his face in everyone The minstrel in the gallery Looked down upon the smiling faces The minstrel gathered The minstrel in the gallery