"Act 2. Architecture" lyrics - PETER HAMMILL

[The Voices Of The House]

House. Wet Vaults. Caissons. We breathe...
Undercroft. Abutments. Stones. Wood. Breathe...
Buttresses. Bressumers. Spandrels. We Breathe...
Columns and Pillars. Shafts. Arches. Capitals. Breathe...

We breathe. We are waiting.
We rise. We are waiting.
We are Usher. House of Usher.
Pilasters. Quoins. Piers.
Spandrels and columns that shaft through the years.
House of Usher.
Wainscots. Stairs. Balusters. Cusps and Cornices.
Spandrels and Columns the capital years.
House of Usher.

We breathe. We are waiting
We rise. We are waiting.
We are Usher. House of Usher.
Beams. Corbels. Joists. Kingposts.
Copings and Chimney-shafts.
Ridge-ribs. Struts. Stanchions. Parapets.
Pediments. Mansards and Gargoyles.
The eaves. The dripping eaves...
Cupola. Finials. Gables. Tiles. Lead...

We breathe. We are waiting.
We rise. We are waiting.
We are Usher. House of Usher.
We are Keystone. We are Usher.