Victor Songtext
von Alex Lifeson

Victor was a little baby, into this world he came
His father took him on his knee and said
"Don′t dishonor the family name"
Victor looked up at his father, looked up with big round eyes
His father said, "Victor, my only son, don't you ever, ever tell lies"

It was a frosty December, it wasn′t the season for fruits
His father fell dead of heart disease while lacing up his boots
It was a frosty December when into his grave he sank
His uncle found Victor a post as cashier at the Midland Counties Bank
It was a frosty December, Victor was only eighteen
But his figures were neat and his margins
Straight and his cuffs were always clean

He took a room at the Pepperell, a respectable boarding house
Time watched Victor day after day as a cat will watch a mouse
Victor went up to his bedroom, set the alarm bell
Climbed into bed with his Bible and read of what happened to Jezebel


It was the first of April, Anna to the Pepperell came
Her eyes, her lips, her breasts, her hips and her smile set men aflame
It was the second of April, she was wearing a coat of fur
Victor met her upon the stairs and he fell in love with her
The first time he made his proposal
She laughed, said, "I'll never wed"
The second time there was a pause, then she smiled and shook her head

Anna looked into her mirror, pouted and gave a frown
Said, "Victor's as dull as a wet
Afternoon but I′ve got to settle down"

The third time he made his proposal as they walked by the reservoir
She gave him a kiss like a blow on the
Head, said, "You are my heart′s desire"

They were married early in August, she said, "Kiss me, you funny boy"
Victor took her in his arms and said, "Oh, my Helen of Troy"

The clerks were talking of Anna, the door was just ajar
One said, "Poor old Victor, but where ignorance is bliss, et cetera"

Victor looked up at the sunset as he stood there all alone, cried
"Are you in heaven, Father?" But the sky said, "Address not known"

Victor looked up at the mountains, the mountains all covered with snow
Cried, "Are you pleased with me
Father?" And the answer came back, "No"

Victor came to the forest, cried, "Father, will she ever be true?"
The oaks and beeches shook their heads
And they answered, "No, not to you"


Victor came to the meadow where the wind went sweeping by, cried
"Oh, Father, I love her so!" But the wind said, "She must die"

Victor came to the river running so deep and so still, cried
"Father, what shall I do?" The river answered, "Kill"

Anna was sitting at table drawing cards for a pack
Anna was sitting at table waiting for her husband to come back

Victor stood in the doorway, didn't utter a word
She said, "What′s the matter, darling?
" He behaved as if he hadn't heard

There was a voice in his left ear, there was a voice in his right
There was a voice at the base of his
Skull saying, "She must die tonight"

Victor picked up a carving knife, his features were set and drawn
Said, "Anna, it would have been better
For you if you had not been born"

Anna jumped up from the table, Anna started to scream
But Victor came slowly after her like a horror in a dream

She dodged behind the sofa, she tore out a curtain rod
But Victor came slowly after her, said, "Prepare to meet thy God"

He stood there above the body, he stood there holding the knife
And the blood ran down the stairs and
He sang, "The resurrection of the Lamb"

They tapped Victor on the shoulder, they took him away in a van
He sat as quiet as a lump of moss saying, "I am the Son of Man"

Victor sat in a corner making a woman of clay, saying
"I am Alpha and Omega, I shall come to judge the earth one day"