Mad Martins
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God and Air
Lyrics
God the first and air the second,
Are the only two causes I have reckoned:
These two are company,
But three would be a crowd;
These are the only two causes
That should be allowed.
I am not clutching at thin air,
You caustic, sarcastic disciples;
you can attack me with your doggerel,
And confound me with your quackeries.
But nothing can sway me,
Disparage, or waylay me;
I will persevere,
I will get there in the end.
God and air, I declare, are the answer;
To the secondary cause of all things.
God and air, if you care, sir, to chance a
Glance at the laws I've prepared:
I have proudly decreed, in this childhood of speed;
That all that I need, is the air that I breathe,
And the love of God, to impel me.
Thirty-six times I tried,
And thirty six times I failed;
I tried and I failed, then I tried and I failed,
But I never gave up and at last I prevailed:
And through a dream both awful and pleasant,
At last I came to know,
At last I came to know.
It's not mechanics, combustion or gravity,
That will solve motion's perpetual flow;
Not mathematics nor a fine time-piece,
That will cause a pendulum to go.
God and air, I declare, are the answer,
To the secondary cause of all things.
God and air, if you care, sir, to chance a
Glance at the laws I've prepared:
I have proudly decreed, in this childhood of speed,
That all that I need, is the air that I breathe,
And the love of God, to impel me.
God enables the air all around us,
With an energy dark and profound;
It’s a natural effect, of the natural world,
That causes its wheels to go round.
By demonstration, pamphlet, or lecture,
I bring you this wonderful news:
You will be able to tell, God has chosen me well,
And you scientists, well; you can all go to hell!
God and air, I declare, are the answer,
To the secondary cause of all things.
God and air, if you care, sir, to chance a
Glance at the laws I've prepared:
I have proudly decreed, in this childhood of speed,
That all that I need, is the air that I breathe,
And the love of God, to impel me.
So indulge me as I enlighten you;
May I delight, and excite, yet not frighten you,
As you foolish and wise come to realise,
That here is the proof that my genius is truth,
Whilst all others tout falseness and lies.
(Lyrics & Music: Gary Miller)
Are the only two causes I have reckoned:
These two are company,
But three would be a crowd;
These are the only two causes
That should be allowed.
I am not clutching at thin air,
You caustic, sarcastic disciples;
you can attack me with your doggerel,
And confound me with your quackeries.
But nothing can sway me,
Disparage, or waylay me;
I will persevere,
I will get there in the end.
God and air, I declare, are the answer;
To the secondary cause of all things.
God and air, if you care, sir, to chance a
Glance at the laws I've prepared:
I have proudly decreed, in this childhood of speed;
That all that I need, is the air that I breathe,
And the love of God, to impel me.
Thirty-six times I tried,
And thirty six times I failed;
I tried and I failed, then I tried and I failed,
But I never gave up and at last I prevailed:
And through a dream both awful and pleasant,
At last I came to know,
At last I came to know.
It's not mechanics, combustion or gravity,
That will solve motion's perpetual flow;
Not mathematics nor a fine time-piece,
That will cause a pendulum to go.
God and air, I declare, are the answer,
To the secondary cause of all things.
God and air, if you care, sir, to chance a
Glance at the laws I've prepared:
I have proudly decreed, in this childhood of speed,
That all that I need, is the air that I breathe,
And the love of God, to impel me.
God enables the air all around us,
With an energy dark and profound;
It’s a natural effect, of the natural world,
That causes its wheels to go round.
By demonstration, pamphlet, or lecture,
I bring you this wonderful news:
You will be able to tell, God has chosen me well,
And you scientists, well; you can all go to hell!
God and air, I declare, are the answer,
To the secondary cause of all things.
God and air, if you care, sir, to chance a
Glance at the laws I've prepared:
I have proudly decreed, in this childhood of speed,
That all that I need, is the air that I breathe,
And the love of God, to impel me.
So indulge me as I enlighten you;
May I delight, and excite, yet not frighten you,
As you foolish and wise come to realise,
That here is the proof that my genius is truth,
Whilst all others tout falseness and lies.
(Lyrics & Music: Gary Miller)
© 2017 Whippet Records
Copyright Control MCPS/PRS
Recording Credits
Gary Miller - Lead Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Iain Petrie - Piano, Organ, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums
Tamsin Davidson - Backing Vocals
Anna Emmins - Backing Vocals
Ropery, anon, 19th Century.
Additional Text
William travelled the length and breadth of the country with the Militia before returning to Howden Dock ropery in 1802, beginning in earnest now his career as an inventor.
In August 1805 he turned his attention to the problem of Perpetual Motion. After thirty-six different experiments in the course of just over a year, he convinced himself that success could not be achieved by mechanical means. One night he was “visited by a wonderful dream, awful in one part and pleasant in another.” In this dream he was told that he had been chosen by God to discover the great secondary cause of all things and the true Perpetual Motion. He came to the conclusion that air was the real cause of Perpetual Motion and following a successful thirty-seventh experiment he set his machine in motion at Newcastle on January 4th 1807.
Taking as his inspiration the following biblical passage, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul". (Genesis ii, 7), William declared that "There are only two causes of all things; God the first, and Air the second; and I will give the British Government leave to burn my Body to Ashes, if they can find a third cause.”
In August 1805 he turned his attention to the problem of Perpetual Motion. After thirty-six different experiments in the course of just over a year, he convinced himself that success could not be achieved by mechanical means. One night he was “visited by a wonderful dream, awful in one part and pleasant in another.” In this dream he was told that he had been chosen by God to discover the great secondary cause of all things and the true Perpetual Motion. He came to the conclusion that air was the real cause of Perpetual Motion and following a successful thirty-seventh experiment he set his machine in motion at Newcastle on January 4th 1807.
Taking as his inspiration the following biblical passage, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul". (Genesis ii, 7), William declared that "There are only two causes of all things; God the first, and Air the second; and I will give the British Government leave to burn my Body to Ashes, if they can find a third cause.”
Video Clips
'God and Air' live at the Premiere of
'Mad Martins: The Story of the Martin Brothers'
The City Theatre, Durham, England, 5th October 2019
'Mad Martins: The Story of the Martin Brothers'
The City Theatre, Durham, England, 5th October 2019