The Haunted Palace Lyrics & Chords By Peter Hammill

In the greenest of our valleys
by good angels tenanted
once a fair and stately palace -
radiant palace - reared its head.
In the monarch, Thought's dominion
like a jewel it stood there.
Never seraph spread a pinion
over fabric half so fair.
Wanderers in that happy valley
through two luminous windows saw
spirits moving musically
to a lute's well-tuned law,
round about a throne where sitting,
side by side with his fair queen,
in state his glory well befitting,
the ruler of the realm was seen.
USHER MONTRESOR
Wait!
Did you hear it?
What was it?
It's nothing.
What was that
distant sound?
I say, I heard nothing
All with pearl and ruby glowing
was the glorious palace door
through which came flowing, flowing,
flowing and sparkling evermore
a troop of echoes, whose sweet duty
night and day was but to sing
in voices of surpassing beauty
the wit and wisdom of their king.
USHER MONTRESOR
No!
There's something,
I heard it
quite clear,
a voice crying.
It's nothing
I say
but the wind!
You heard the wind,
just heard Within the House!
the wild wind crying.
But evil things, in robes of sorrow
assailed the monarch's high estate;
let us mourn for never morrow
dawn upon him, desolate;
round about his home the glory
that had always blushed and bloomed
is but a dim-remembered story
of the olden time entombed.
USHER MONTRESOR
There!
Yes, you heard it!
There is someone else -
There's nothing something else
I say, down there!
You hear nothing!
There's no-one there.
It is the storm Are we
that you hear. alone here?
Travellers now within that valley
through red-litten windows see
vast forms that move fantastically
to a discordant melody
while like a rapid, ghastly river
through the ever open door
a hideous throng rush out forever
and laugh - but smile no more!
And laugh - but smile no more!
And laugh - but smile no more!
USHER No! No! No!