Peter Hammill - The Institute of Mental Health, Burning

Lyrics

It was the first day of July,

No wind breathed in the sky

When a pin-striped suit

Saw that the Institute of Mental Health was burning

He stood upon the corner

Where the sun was warmer...

Looking across the street,

He moved the shackles on his feet

As the Institute was burning

Flames were roaring, singing like a thunderstorm,

Smoke was pouring straight up to the sky,

Windows smashing, Gothic doors and lintels fall,

Timbers crashing and we both know why.

Nobody else came by to stare,

You see, they didn't really care

Can't call the fire brigade

None of them had been paid

And so the Institute was burning

Throughout the city, people say it isn't pretty,

Everyone agrees, and everyone feels glad,

Doctored brains celebrate and everyone waves their chains...

It's a pity they're all mad

The Institute of Mental Health

Spontaneously killed itself

Ashes to ashes

And dust to dust

My chains began to rust

As the Institute was burning, burning, burning