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These are doctorinfierno's notes on Pictures At An Exhibition by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

I. Promenade [1]

Lead me from tortured dreams
Childhood themes of nights alone,
Wipe away endless years,
childhood tears as dry as stone.


From seeds of confusion,
illusions dark's blossoms have grown.

Even now in furrows of sorrow
the doubt still is sown.

My life's course is guided
decided by limits drawn
on charts of my past days
and pathways since I was born.

II. The Sage

I carry the dust of a journey
that cannot be shaken away

It lives deep within me
For I breathe it every day.

You and I are yesterday's answers;
The earth of the past come to flesh,
Eroded by Time's rivers
To the shapes we now possess.

Come share of my breath
and my substance,
and mingle our stream and our times.

In bright, infinite moments,
Our reasons are lost in our rhymes.

III. The Curse of Baba Yaga

Doubles faces dark defense
Talk too loud but talk no sense
Yeah I see those smiling eyes
Butter us up with smiling lies

Talk to creatures raise the dead
Fate you know sure got fed
Trained apart from houses of stone
Whores and hustlers pick the bone

IV. The Great Gates of Kiev [2]

Come forth, from love's pyre
Born in life's fire
,
born in life's fire.
Come forth, from love's pyre

In the burning of our yearning, for life to be.
And in pain will (must) be gained new life!


Stirring in, salty streams
and dark hidden seams
where the fossil sun gleams.

They were, sent from (to) the gates
Ride the tides of fate,

ride the tides of fate.
They were, sent from (to) the gates

In the burning of our yearning,
For life to be.

There's no end to my life,
no beginning to my death
Death is life.

[1] This song is a highly synthesized and stylized version of a piece by Modest Mussorgsky of the same name. The original work is a suite in 10 pieces, ELP follows this structure on this studio version. You can listen to the classical piece here

[2] This section is my favorite: Greg does a fantastic job on lead vocals showing off his superb range. Although this studio version was recorded about 20 years later after their live version he's vocal prowess still stands the test of time.