It’s definitely about settlers in South Africa around 1910. People tried to find their fortune in the gold and diamond mines. However, one day the gold was gone, and the people went away.
Transvaal was a province in South Africa.
[Verse 1]
Old Taylor said
Old Taylor meant to cry, oh my
Field marshal meant
Field marshal went away again
Look out below, the tides
Lean heavily like wine
We are all innocent in spite of you and me
[Verse 2]
Then Martha went
Yes Martha went away again
Down in Transvaal
Where crocodiles and men fight on
They would have played all night
Even with loaded dice
It's gold that eats the heart and leaves the bones to dry
[Instrumental bridge]
[Verse 3]
Segovia watched
Gendarmerie and all that's all
The radio man
Amanda did you choose your tune
She walked away in time
She walked a crooked line
So gracefully she turned her head and smiled away
The Endless Plain of Fortune was written by John Cale.
The Endless Plain of Fortune was produced by Chris Thomas.
John Cale released The Endless Plain of Fortune on Sun Feb 25 1973.