"Albion's Rock (full 9 minutes)" genre: Poetry
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	A selection of William Blake's Jerusalem, Chapter 4, set to a wierd & fantastical musical theme
	Credits: Wm Blake: lyrics, maXwell: music & narration
	Story Behind the Song This section of Blake's Epic Visionary poem, Plates 94-96 is at the point where Albion awakes from his nightmarish sleep and sees the body of vision in order to forgive and embrace his emanation Jerusalem. Lyrics PLATE 95 Albion cold lays on his Rock: storms & snows beat round him. Beneath the Furnaces & the starry Wheels & the Immortal Tomb Howling winds cover him: roaring seas dash furious against him In the deep darkness broad lightnings glare long thunders roll The weeds of Death inwrap his hands & feet blown incessant And washd incessant by the for-ever restless sea-waves foaming abroad Upon the white Rock. England a Female Shadow as deadly damps Of the Mines of Cornwall & Derbyshire lays upon his bosom heavy Moved by the wind in volumes of thick cloud returning folding round His loins & bosom unremovable by swelling storms & loud rending Of enraged thunders. Around them the Starry Wheels of their Giant Sons Revolve: & over them the Furnaces of Los & the Immortal Tomb around Erin sitting in the Tomb, to watch them unceasing night and day And the Body of Albion was closed apart from all Nations. Over them the famishd Eagle screams on boney Wings and around Them howls the Wolf of famine deep heaves the Ocean black thundering Around the wormy Garments of Albion: then pausing in deathlike silence Time was Finished! The Breath Divine Breathed over Albion Beneath the Furnaces & starry Wheels and in the Immortal Tomb And England who is Brittannia awoke from Death on Albions bosom She awoke pale & cold she fainted seven times on the Body of Albion O pitious Sleep O pitious Dream! O God O God awake I have slain In Dreams of Chastity & Moral Law I have Murdered Albion! Ah! In Stone-henge & on London Stone & in the Oak Groves of Malden I have Slain him in my Sleep with the Knife of the Druid O England O all ye Nations of the Earth behold ye the Jealous Wife The Eagle & the Wolf & Monkey & Owl & the King & Priest were there PLATE 95 Her voice pierc'd Albions clay cold ear. he moved upon the Rock The Breath Divine went forth upon the morning hills, Albion mov'd Upon the Rock, he opend his eyelids in pain; in pain he mov'd His stony members, he saw England. Ah! shall the Dead live again The Breath Divine went forth over the morning hills Albion rose In anger: the wrath of God breaking bright flaming on all sides around His awful limbs: into the Heavens he walked clothed in flames Loud thundring, with broad flashes of flaming lightning & pillars Of fire, speaking the Words of Eternity in Human Forms, in direful Revolutions of Action & Passion, thro the Four Elements on all sides Surrounding his awful Members. Thou seest the Sun in heavy clouds Struggling to rise above the Mountains. in his burning hand He takes his Bow, then chooses out his arrows of flaming gold Murmuring the Bowstring breathes with ardor! clouds roll around the Horns of the wide Bow, loud sounding winds sport on the mountain brows Compelling Urizen to his Furrow; & Tharmas to his Sheepfold; And Luvah to his Loom: Urthona he beheld mighty labouring at His Anvil, in the Great Spectre Los unwearied labouring & weeping Therefore the Sons of Eden praise Urthonas Spectre in songs Because he kept the Divine Vision in time of trouble. As the Sun & Moon lead forward the Visions of Heaven & Earth England who is Brittannia enterd Albions bosom rejoicing, Rejoicing in his indignation! adoring his wrathful rebuke. She who adores not your frowns will only loathe your smiles PLATE 96 As the Sun & Moon lead forward the Visions of Heaven & Earth England who is Brittannia entered Albions bosom rejoicing Then Jesus appeared standing by Albion as the Good Shepherd By the lost Sheep that he hath found & Albion knew that it Was the Lord the Universal Humanity, & Albion saw his Form A Man. & they conversed as Man with Man, in Ages of Eternity And the Divine Appearance was the likeness & similitude of Los Albion said. O Lord what can I do! my Selfhood cruel Marches against thee deceitful from Sinai & from Edom Into the Wilderness of Judah to meet thee in his pride I behold the Visions of my deadly Sleep of Six Thousand Years Dazling around thy skirts like a Serpent of precious stones & gold I know it is my Self. O my Divine Creator & Redeemer Jesus replied Fear not Albion unless I die thou canst not live But if I die I shall arise again & thou with me This is Friendship & Brotherhood without it Man Is Not So Jesus spoke! the Covering Cherub coming on in darkness Overshadowd them & Jesus said Thus do Men in Eternity One for another to put off by forgiveness, every sin Albion replyd. Cannot Man exist without Mysterious Offering of Self for Another, is this Friendship & Brotherhood I see thee in the likeness & similitude of Los my Friend Jesus said. Wouldest thou love one who never died For thee or ever die for one who had not died for thee And if God dieth not for Man & giveth not himself Eternally for Man Man could not exist. for Man is Love: As God is Love: every kindness to another is a little Death In the Divine Image nor can Man exist but by Brotherhood

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