Victor Lyrics - Singles - Victor

(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.'