[NARRATOR]
From a dense forest of tall, dark, pinewood
Mount Ida rises like an island
Within a hidden cave, nymphs had kept a child
Hermaphroditus, son of Gods, so afraid of their love
As the dawn creeps up the sky
The hunter caught sight of a doe
In desire for conquest
He found himself within a glade he'd not beheld before
[HERMAPHRODITUS]
Where are you my father?
Give wisdom to your son
[NARRATOR]
And as his strength began to fail
He saw a shimmering lake
A shadow in the dark green depths
Disturbed the strange tranquillity
[SALMACIS]
The waters are disturbed
Some creature has been stirred
[NARRATOR]
As he rushed to quench his thirst
A fountain spring appeared before him
And as his heated breath brushed through the cool mist
A liquid voice called, "Son of Gods, drink from my spring"
The water tasted strangely sweet
Behind him the voice called again
He turned and saw her, in a cloak of mist alone
And as he gazed, her eyes were filled with the darkness of the lake
[SALMACIS]
We shall be one
We shall be joined as one
[Instrumental Break]
[HERMAPHRODITUS]
Away from me cold-blooded woman
Your thirst is not mine
[SALMACIS]
Nothing will cause us to part
Hear me, o' gods
[NARRATOR]
Unearthly calm descended from the sky
(Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
And then their flesh and bones were strangely merged
Forever to be joined as one
The flesh! (Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah)
[Instrumental Break]
[NARRATOR]
The creature crawled into the lake
A fading voice was heard
"And I beg, yes I beg, that all who touch this spring
May share my fate"
[SALMACIS]
We are the one
We are the one
[NARRATOR]
Both had given everything they had
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
A lover's dream had been fulfilled at last
Forever still beneath the lake
The lake! (Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah)
Lake! (Ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah)
That was "The Fountain of Salmacis" and, uh, it's the first time I've heard Genesis with the mellotron live and, I must say it, uh, vastly adds to the sound, and, uh, adds to what already was a very good group anyhow