Notes From an Opera-Ana Silvera

[ti:Notes from an Opera] [ar:Ana Silvera] [al:The Aviary] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.00]Notes From an Opera - Ana Silvera [00:10.54]I was in a hotel when the city first fell [00:13.54]It was gilded and sullen and neoclassical [00:16.16] [00:16.72]I took up with an officer and then his general [00:19.46] [00:20.09]He bought me almond biscuits and a freshwater pearl [00:23.02] [00:23.58]And took me to the opera and after to Pigalle [00:26.39] [00:26.95]A dancer wearing tassels ate the rose off my lapel [00:29.82] [00:30.38]These days I'm wearing Shalimar never my Chanel [00:33.44]Cos it reminds him of his mother [00:35.44] [00:37.50]He wears me like he does his duty shoes [00:40.68]Immaculately polished and he keeps my soul [00:43.86]In the Paris saloons [00:44.99] [00:46.80]And he occupies my moods [00:52.10] [01:00.34]On the Rue des Abesses [01:02.58] [01:03.14]We could see violets had [01:06.89]Colonised the boulevards in June [01:10.13] [01:13.38]I walk him down to the station [01:16.75] [01:17.43]Banners fly from the irons [01:20.93]And vapour trails [01:22.18] [01:23.67]Come rising up [01:27.23]Like dove tails [01:29.48] [01:30.41]Bridal veils [01:32.35] [01:33.28]Sundial creeps its hours [01:37.34]Into July Among the ruins [01:42.52]Lanternas light [01:43.46] [01:44.52]I still count his steps [01:47.01]On this esplanade Like rosaries [01:53.38] [02:05.42]Arms surround me Arms surround me [02:10.17] [02:23.46]I was in the hotel when the first bomb fell [02:26.52]It shook the chandeliers and that old crystal [02:29.51] [02:30.38]Came tumbling down on the tiles like the steeples [02:33.13]Of the St Paul bell [02:35.88] [02:36.87]I get my pleasures in the dim stairwells [02:40.49]In fairground hands I undo myself [02:43.74] [02:44.30]Rise and fall like the painted poles [02:47.37]Of the carousel And now autumn unthreads [02:54.55]Her last dress of gold [02:57.23]Upon long lawns Shadows unfurl [03:01.04] [03:01.72]I still count his steps [03:04.16]On this esplanade Where violets grow