Victor - Victor lyrics

(W.H. Auden)

Victor was a little baby, into this world he came:

His father took him on his knee and said:' Don't dishonour the family

Name.' Victor looked up at his father- loked up with big round eyes:

His father said:' Victor, my only son, don't you ever tell lies.'

It was a frosty December, it wsn't the season for fruits;

His father fell dead of heart disease while lacing up his boots.

It was a frosty December when into his grave he sank;

His uncle found Victor a post as a cashier in the Midlands Counties

Bank.

It was a frosty December Victor was only eighteen.

But his figures were neat and his margins straight and his cuffs were

Always clean.

He took a room at the Peveril, a respectableboarding-house: And Time

Watched Victor day after day as a cat willwatch a mouse.

Victor went up to his bedroom, set the alarm bell;

Climbed into his bed, took his bible and read of happend to Jezebel.

It was the First of April, Anna to the Peveril came;

Her eyes, her lips, her breasts, her hips and her smile set men

Aflame. It was the Second of April, she was wearing a coat of fur;

Victor met her upon the stairs and fell in love with her.

The first time he made his proposal, she laughed, said:' I'll never

Wed':

The second time there was a pause, then she shook her head. Anna

Looked at the mirror, pouted and gave a frown; Said;'Victor's as dull

As a wet afternoon but I've got to settle down.'

The third time hemade his proposal, as they walked by the Reservoir,

She gave him a kiss like a blowon the head, said,'You are my heart's

Desire.'

They married early in August, she said;'Kiss me, you funny

Boy':

Victor took her in his arms and said:'O my Helen of Troy.'

The clerks were talking of Anna, the door was just ajar:

One said:'Poor old Victor, but where ignorance is bliss, etcetera.'

Victor looked up at the sunset as he stood there all alone; Cried:'Are

You in Heaven, Father ?', but the sky said'Address not known.'

Victor looked up at the mountains, the mountains all covered with

Snow;

Cried:'Are you pleased with me, Father ?' and the answer came

Back,No.

Victor came to the forest, cried:'Father, will she ever be

True ?'

And the oaks and the beeches shook their heads and they

Answered:' Not to you.'

Victor came to the meadow where the wind went

Sweeping by: Cried:' O Father, I love her so,' but the wind said:' She

Must die.'

Victor came to the river running so deep and so still;

Crying:' O Father, what shall I do ?' and the river answered:' Kill.'

Anna was sitting at table, drawing cards from a pack;

Anna was sitting at table waiting for her husband to come back.

Victor stood in the doorway, he didn't utter a word;

She said:'What's the matter, darling ?' he behaved as if he hadn't

Heard.

There was a voice in his left ear, there was a voice in the

Right,

There was a voice at the base of his skull saying:'She must die

Tonight.'

Victor picked up a carving knife, his features were set and

Drawn, Said;'Anna, it would have been better for you if you had not

Been born.'

Anna jumped up from the table, Anna started to scream,

But Victor cam slowly after her like a horror in a dream.

She dodged behind the sofa, she tore down a curtain rod,

But Victor came slowly after her, said' Prepare to meet Thy God.'

He stood there above the body, he stood there holding the knife;

And the blood ran down the stairs and sang; ' I am the Resurrection

And the Life.'

They tapped Victor on the shoulder, they took him away

In a van;

He sat as quiet as a lump of moss saying; ' I am the Son of

Man.'

Victor sat in a corner

Making a woman of clay.

Saying:' I am Alpha and Omega, I shall come

To judge the earth one day.'