The Astronomer

[DAVE]
This is Side 2. Track 1, “The Astronomer.”

[DAVE (Astronomer)]
I AM NOT A PRIEST
AND I AM NOT A MONK
AND I DON’T GO TO CHURCH MUCH
BUT WHEN I DO I STAND AND I SING LOUD

[ALL]
I SING LOUD

[DAVE]
I AM THE ASTRONOMER
AND WHEN I LOOK THROUGH MY TELESCOPE
I AM CERTAIN OF THE UNIVERSE
I AM FILLED WITH WONDER FROM THE STARS
AND I NEVER SAW ANYTHING
I COULDN’T BLAME ON MY MIND
SO I DON’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS

BUT I LIKE TO SING
BUT I LIKE TO SING
AND WHEN I HEAR THE CALL TO PRAYER
BUZZING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS OF THE MOSQUES
THERE’S A SHOCK, THERE’S A STILLNESS
AS THE MELODIES TWIST AND ZAP
AND THE AIR IS FILLED WITH DIAMONDS
AND I WISH THAT I COULD SING LIKE THAT
BUT I DON’T PRACTICE ENOUGH

[ALL]
PRACTICE
PRACTICE

[DAVE]
NO I DON’T PRACTICE ENOUGH

[ALL]
PRACTICE
PRACTICE

[DAVE]
I’M CONFOUNDED BY MUSIC
AND BABIES AND LAUGHTER
AND STORIES AND GOODNESS
INFINITY AND LUCK
I’M CONFUSED BY THE NOTION
THAT SOMEBODY LOVES ME
AND DRUGS MAKE ME CRAZY
AND A CLAIRVOYANT TOLD ME ONCE I’VE GOT AN OLD SOUL
OH LORD I WISH I COULD SING LIKE THAT
BUT I DON’T PRACTICE ENOUGH

[ALL]
PRACTICE
PRACTICE

[DAVE]
NO I DON’T PRACTICE ENOUGH

[ALL]
PRACTICE
PRACTICE

[DAVE]
THERE’S A MAN IN IRAN
WHO SAYS HE TALKS TO GHOSTS
AND THE WAY THAT HE DOES IT
IS HE HASN’T SPOKE TO ANYONE ALIVE IN 42 YEARS
HE TURNS HIS MIND OFF EVERY DAY
AND STARES AT THE WALL
AND HE IS ONE WITH THE UNIVERSE
AND HE SAYS THAT EVERY SOUL THAT EVER DIED
IS LIVING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE SKY

BUT IF THAT’S THE EXPERIMENT
IF THAT’S WHAT A SCIENTIST WOULD HAVE TO DO
IF THAT’S HOW LONG IT TAKES
I’M AFRAID I JUST HAVEN’T GOT THE TIME

SO I’LL GO HOME
POUR SOME WHISKEY
AND I’LL SIGH
AND WHEN IT’S TIME TO GO TO BED
I’LL KEEP THE NIGHTLIGHT ON

[ALL]
PRACTICE
PRACTICE