A Ritual Mask by Peter Hammill Lyrics

A Ritual Mask
Upon the wall
Furnishes his surroundings
And he thinks that's all

The Ritual Mask
Its power still strong
A memento of his travels
That he got for a song
He got it for a song
He got it for a song

It was the song of the centuries undisturbed
It was the song of secrets and power words;
It was the song of a culture not grown immune
To the virus of progress
To the theft of the tune

The Ritual Mask
The evil eye
Inhabits his apartment
Inhabits his mind
With a song of vengeance
With a song of a debt repaid
With a song of justice
With a song of a hand unstayed
With a song of a culture as old as the hills...
That sits uneasy on the living-room wall
Like a snake about to kill
The Ritual Mask
It won't take long
Before he finds out the bargain
Has turned out dreadfully wrong

Oh, he got it for a song