The Book Speaks

Lyrics © 2006 Naomi Rivkis \  TTTO ``Under the Gripping Beast'' by Cat Faber

Lyrics [pdf]

Am G Am E
Five th ousand years or m ore ago, a cr aftsman worked in h ide
Am G C E
As gl eaming-soft and h uman as the d ay the young man d ied.
C G F E
The f eathered wax had cr umbled, and the f ather had to l ook.
Em G Am G Am
He w ept and gathered  up the bones, and b ound them  in a b ook.
G F Am
  Under the gripping beast is g enius twined with gr ief
G F E
For you c annot write of feelings if you h ave not known their ch ief.
Am G F E
I b ear no curse but kn owledge of the p ain that hearts must b ear,
Em G Am G Am
The bl unders they've comm itted and the w ild j oys they sh are.
Am G Am E
The cr aftsman wrote with in me, told his t ales in his own h and
Am G C E
And  every artist  after him has sp un another str and.
C G F E
I c arry now the st ories of the h uman race ent ire
Em G Am G Am
And  anyone who l ooks within finds m adness t ouched with f ire.
G F Am
  Under the gripping beast is g enius twined with gr ief
G F E
For you c annot write of feelings if you h ave not known their ch ief.
Am G F E
I b ear no curse but kn owledge of the p ain that hearts must b ear,
Em G Am G Am
The bl unders they've comm itted and the w ild j oys they sh are.
Am G Am E
I h old the verse of S appho written j ust before she l eapt;
Am G C E
The w eeping voice of M ozart and of c ountless more who w ept
C G F E
The st arry night that V incent saw was p ainted on my p age
Em C Am G Am
The gr aphs of the astr onomers, the l essons  of the s age.
G F Am
  Under the gripping beast is g enius twined with gr ief
G F E
For you c annot write of feelings if you h ave not known their ch ief.
Am G F E
I b ear no curse but kn owledge of the p ain that hearts must b ear,
Em G Am G Am
The bl unders they've comm itted and the w ild j oys they sh are.
Am G Am E
So y ou who hold me  in your hands, be c areful what you l earn
Am G C E
I d o not wish to h arm you, but your m ind's own fire can b urn.
Am G F E
Im agination's gl ories and its t ortures lie with in
Em G Am G Am
A j ournal bound in l eather fine, as s oft as h uman sk in.