Mad Martins
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William, You Were Really Something
Lyrics
Thunder and lightning attended your birth,
God’s message to you to inherit the earth:
To conquer with genius for all you were worth;
All in your dreams.
Like a lion poised to rush from his den,
And defeat all abusers of the pen,
And bring divine wisdom for the good of all men;
New ideas, new machines.
The Martinian system, a new guiding light,
To put all ignorance and false prophets to flight:
If Newton was wrong, then you must be right;
Maybe in another life.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the medals and the madness, your genius shone through.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the mockery and the sadness, was a glimpse of the real you.
Stephenson and Davy stole your dream,
Though your Safety Lamp was best it would seem:
A magnificent man in your flying machine;
Broken dreams and bones.
While your devoted wife sewed her heart out for you,
You chased your half-hidden, unsolvable truths:
So many years wasted in the season of youth;
Quickly fading away.
Her star burned out, leaving you to survive,
On a diet that barely kept you alive:
Man can’t live alone on ambition and drive,
Loneliness and pain.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the medals and the madness, your genius shone through.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the mockery and the sadness, was a glimpse of the real you.
The pamphlets you wrote, the false medals displayed,
The tortoiseshell cap in your twilight days;
Only seen by others as proof of your craze,
Yet precious to you.
Bard of skill from Bardon Mill,
Curer of all earthly ill:
Respect is due; your light shines still,
Here’s to you.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the medals and the madness, your genius shone through.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the mockery and the sadness, was a glimpse of the real you.
God’s message to you to inherit the earth:
To conquer with genius for all you were worth;
All in your dreams.
Like a lion poised to rush from his den,
And defeat all abusers of the pen,
And bring divine wisdom for the good of all men;
New ideas, new machines.
The Martinian system, a new guiding light,
To put all ignorance and false prophets to flight:
If Newton was wrong, then you must be right;
Maybe in another life.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the medals and the madness, your genius shone through.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the mockery and the sadness, was a glimpse of the real you.
Stephenson and Davy stole your dream,
Though your Safety Lamp was best it would seem:
A magnificent man in your flying machine;
Broken dreams and bones.
While your devoted wife sewed her heart out for you,
You chased your half-hidden, unsolvable truths:
So many years wasted in the season of youth;
Quickly fading away.
Her star burned out, leaving you to survive,
On a diet that barely kept you alive:
Man can’t live alone on ambition and drive,
Loneliness and pain.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the medals and the madness, your genius shone through.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the mockery and the sadness, was a glimpse of the real you.
The pamphlets you wrote, the false medals displayed,
The tortoiseshell cap in your twilight days;
Only seen by others as proof of your craze,
Yet precious to you.
Bard of skill from Bardon Mill,
Curer of all earthly ill:
Respect is due; your light shines still,
Here’s to you.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the medals and the madness, your genius shone through.
Oh, William, William, you were really something;
In between the mockery and the sadness, was a glimpse of the real you.
(Gary Miller)
© 2017 Whippet Records
Copyright Control MCPS/PRS
Recording Credits
Gary Miller - Lead & Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Hand-Claps
Iain Petrie - Electric Guitar, Organ, Bass, Guitar, Drums, Tambourine, Hand-Claps, Backing Vocals
Additional Text
In 1849, having published his last leaflet 'The Philosopher on the Millennium’ and being short of money and tired of the ridicule his eccentricities received, he was invited by his brother John to stay in his grand new home, Lindsey House, on the Chelsea Embankment. William lived out the last few years of his life there in comfort and ease before dying on February 9th 1851.
Lindsey House [pencil, ink and wash], Walter Greaves.
Video Clips
'William, You Were Really Something' 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