The Drum Songtext
von Bongwater

[The key is now
This is the moment in which we can do
Now. What you call the future,
Is man′s hope of the future,
Which he is hoping, now
We are non-contemporary
We are non-contemporary]

Get in line, keep in time with the drum
And don't forget we′re nothing yet but bongwater
Are you coming to or coming from?
The understanding that I'm handing it to you
Or is that a job you don't dare do?
Hey, my pretty flower, there′s a letter for you
You′ll find it on the shelf
Though it was posted in Calcutta
I know it's just another
That you′ve written to yourself

[And time becomes the greatest tyrant in our lives -- time.
And time becomes the greatest tyrant]


Wе watch a distant drum a-flashing
On the beat in all his, Pierrot fashion

Gеt in line, keep in time with the drum
And don't forget we′re nothing yet but bongwater
Don't move your feet until the next beat comes
One of the laws says pause between
I would hate to make the game seem mean
Hey, my pretty flower, can you guess where I′ve been?
Can you guess at all?
Well, I've been to your room
And learned you have all the mirrors
Turned against the wall

[Make the present dynamically right
Advantages won in the past were real]

We watch a distant drummer flashing
On the beat in all his, Pierrot fashion


Listen now to the sound of the Drum -
And don't forget we′re nothing yet but bongwater
It won′t be pleasant when the present time is done
Testing nightly 'neath a sprightly summer moon
Your spirit like a jelly in a spoon
Hey my pretty flower there′s a cat in the room
And it's not the type you′re used to
Though I think I led it to the sink
And tried to make it drink
It refused to

[We achieve a new relationship with time.
...diversity of activity...
...it is never free...
...there's a mysterious...
...it is not...
...surprising...
...quiet times...
...it is not necessary to...
...this is not-I.
And because it is not I,
It cannot disturb my consciousness,
Unless I permit it to do so]

We watch a distant drum a-flashing
On the beat in all his, Pierrot fashion

Keep in line keep in time with the drum
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la