A Very Cellular Song Songtext
von The Incredible String Band

Winter was cold and the clothing was thin,
But the gentle shepherd calls the tune.
Oh, dear mother what shall I do?
First please your eyes and then your ears, Jenny,
Exchanging love tokens, say goodnight.

Lay down, my dear sister,
Won′t you lay and take your rest?
Won't you lay your head upon your saviour′s breast?
And I love you but Jesus loves you the best,
And I bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight,
And I bid you goodnight, goodnight, goodnight.


One of these mornings bright and early and fine,
Goodnight, goodnight.
Not a cricket, not a spirit going to shout me on,
Goodnight, goodnight.
I go walking in the valley of the shadow of death,
Goodnight, goodnight.
And his rod and his staff shall comfort me,
Goodnight, goodnight.
Oh John, the wine, he saw the sign,
Goodnight, goodnight.
Oh John, say, I seen a number of signs,
Goodnight, goodnight.
Tell A for the ark, that wonderful boat,
Goodnight, goodnight.
You know they built it on the land getting water to float,
Goodnight, goodnight.
Tell B for the beast at the ending of the wood,
Goodnight, goodnight.
You know it ate all the children when they wouldn't be good,
Goodnight, goodnight.
I remember quite well, I remember quite well,
Goodnight, goodnight.
I was walking in Jerusalem just like John,
Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight.
Goodnight, goodnight.
Goodnight, goodnight.
Goodnight, goodnight.

Who would lose and who would bruise,
Or who would live quite prettily?
And who would love what comes along,
And fill the air with joyous song?

Who would go and who would come,
Or who would simply linger?
And who would hide behind your chair,
And steal your crystallised ginger?

Nebulous nearnesses cry to me.
At this timeless moment, someone dear to me
Wants me near, makes me high,
I can hear vibrations fly.
Through mangoes, pomegranates and planes,
All the same.
When it reaches me and teaches me
To sigh.


Who would mouse and who would lion,
Or who would be the tamer?
And who would hear directions clear
From the unnameable namer?

Who would skip and who would plod,
Or who would lie quite stilly?
And who would ride backwards on a giraffe
Stopping every so often to laugh?

Amoebas are very small.

Oh ah ee oo, there's absolutely no strife,
Living the timeless life.
I don′t need a wife,
Living the timeless life.
If I need a friend I just give a wriggle,
Split right down the middle.
And when I look there′s two of me,
Both as handsome as can be.
Oh here we go slithering, here we go slithering and squelching on.
Oh here we go slithering, here we go slithering and squelching on.
Oh ah ee oo, there's absolutely no strife,
Living the timeless life.

Black hair, brown hair, feather and scale,
Seed and stamen and all unnamed lives that live.
Turn your quivering nerves in my direction,
Turn your quivering nerves in my direction,
Turn your quivering nerves in my direction,
Feel the energy projection of my cells,
Wishes you well.

May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.

May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.

May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.
May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.