Spirit of Play

(You can hear a really rough live version of this one, the song with which we usually finish a set, thus signalling to our fans that it's almost time to call ineffectually for an encore, on myspace; we really must make a better recording one of these days . . . .)

WILL (waving his arms, grinning manically, floral shirt glowing in the dark):

She said in the spirit of play, I'm going to look the other way
And on the count of ten, I'm going to look at you again
And if I don't like what I see, then I'm afraid it's going to be
The end for you and me, and don't you dare to disagree

LUCY (E major, F-sharp minor, E major again, etc):

He said I'm not surprised this is how you're going to decide
What we're going to do, and now I'm going to do it, too
And if I don't like what I see, then I'm afraid it's going to be
The end for you and me, and don't you dare to disagree

WILL and MICHAEL (shouting, shouting):

IN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY YOU KNOW IT'S OKAY TO SAY WHATEVER'S ON YOUR MIND, YOU KNOW IT'S CRUEL TO BE KIND AND THE SURVEYS ALL SAY THERE'S NO OTHER WAY THAN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY, THAN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY - OKAY

And I guess it's true
That a frank exchange of views
Could be good for me and good for you, good for me and good for you . . . .

ALL TOGETHER NOW (Jonny starts playing a rising bass line at this point that wakes up Zeus, the King of the Gods, from his Olympian slumber):

They put themselves to the test, hold each other's breath
And when she turns her head, she smiles at him, and then she says:

WILL and MICHAEL (shouting, shouting):

IN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY YOU KNOW IT'S OKAY TO SAY WHATEVER'S ON YOUR MIND, YOU KNOW IT'S COOL TO BE KIND, YOU CAN SPEAK AS YOU FIND, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY THAN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY, THAN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY - OKAY

(cue ridiculous guitar homophony and high-pitched unison counter-melody, once imitated, in a friendly way, I guess, by Will and the People, at the Water Rats on the King's Cross Road)

(then the bass and drums contribute a resounding syncopated counterpoint, presumably inspired by Finzi or Ligeti or Byrd)

(then it's the chorus again)

WILL and MICHAEL (shouting, shouting):

IN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY YOU KNOW IT'S OKAY TO SAY WHATEVER'S ON YOUR MIND, YOU KNOW IT'S CRUEL TO BE KIND AND THE SURVEYS ALL SAY THERE'S NO OTHER WAY THAN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY, THAN THE SPIRIT OF PLAY - OKAY

(ouch)

and with that, Zeus takes aim with his almighty lightning, and -

(Silence.)