Free Will And Testament

by Robert Wyatt

From the album: Shleep

Track 5 of 11 on Shleep (1997).

Duration: 4:12

Shleep cover art

Lyrics for Free Will And Testament

Given free will but within certain limitations, I cannot will myself to limitless mutations, I cannot know what I would be if I were not me, I can only guess me. So when I say that I know me, how can I know that? What kind of spider understands arachnophobia? I have my senses and my sense of having senses. Do I guide them? Or they me? The weight of dust exceeds the weight of settled objects. What can it mean, such gravity without a centre? Is there freedom to un-be? Is there freedom from will-to-be? Sheer momentum makes us act this way or that way. We just invent or just assume a motivation. I would disperse, be disconnected. Is this possible? What are soldiers without a foe? Be in the air, but not be air, be in the no air. Be on the loose, neither compacted nor suspended. Neither born nor left to die. Had I been free, I could have chosen not to be me. Demented forces push me madly round a treadmill. Demented forces push me madly round a treadmill. Let me off please, I am so tired. Let me off please, I am so very tired.

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More from Shleep

  1. Heaps Of Sheeps
  2. The Duchess
  3. Maryan
  4. Was A Friend
  5. Free Will And Testament
  6. September The Ninth
  7. Alien
  8. Out Of Season
  9. A Sunday In Madrid
  10. Blues In Bob Minor
  11. The Whole Point Of No Return