Almost the Words - Van Der Graaf Generator

Named, the day and date

Picked, the place and time to meet

Set, the words I uttered in stone

To right the many wrongs

That I’ve done along the way

Now the ball’s in my own court

Angels hide in the inglenook

Saints alive, I’ll be brought to book

One false move was all it took

All the wicked thoughts will be brought to book

I’m not proud of what I did before

I acknowledge all my actions nonetheless

Undiminished, the returning score

I played my part in any sins I now confess

All that’s done is done

And all that comes along the way

Lands up in the lap of the gods

One false step, one last look

Under time and tide I’ll be brought to book

I never thought I’d get to see this through

The cold documented case

One by one the arguments fall through

The past stares me in the face

Never thought I’d see it through

Here it is, the self-obsession and surrender

Here it is, it’s right in front of me

Here it is, the package gets returned to sender

Here, with interest, it comes back to me

I never thought I’d see it through

Finally wearing history naked on my face

I’ll disclose the truth of what I’ve done

Reveal the lines I’ve spun in passing

I will face up to the music

And with what breath’s left in my lungs

I’ll settle up the score and bid farewell to everyone

Time to square the circle

Time to dot the «i"s and cross the «t"s

Time to keep on working

To unspot the hand that did the deeds

To wash out the wounding

To effect a final remedy

In the last accounting

All the sum of parts in threnody

I’m not proud of who I’ve been before

I’ve no pride in what I’ve done before

Time alone holds what’s in store

I’m gathered in by hook or by crook

All in due course I’ll be brought to book