Explicit Music is the publishing company that deals with Wud Records and all of the bands that come under the Wud Records label. Explicit Music is headquartered in Exeter, England.

PRISONER

PRISONER
Real time bandit, flower of the sun
I gaze on glass of windows barred
My feet too tired to run
Uptown faces, downtown souls on Stun
I knock on wood of locked up doors
My heart a smoking gun

Am I dreaming I’m a butterfly
Does the butterfly dream me
Will I live or die in an insect’s eye
Can this really be

Distant creatures, bleached out animal men
I mark their paths in the desert’s dust
When each life comes to an end
Sullen sentries, sent to guard the land
They look inside with empty eyes
From behind their hands

Am I dreaming I’m a butterfly
Does the butterfly dream me
Will I live or die in an insect’s eye
Can this really be

Book of Cards, bright shadows it reveals
I live between the pasteboard prints
Learning what to steal
Silent artist, soundless hero paints
Brushed upon a Timechart canvas
Turns sinners into saints

Am I dreaming I’m a butterfly
Does the butterfly dream me
Will I live or die in an insect’s eye
Can this really be

Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1989 Pig Pen Music.

Lyrics by P. Greatorex.
Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/J. Willmot/R. Holloway/M. Greatorex/G. Barbe.

Copyright © 2015 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1989 Pig Pen Music.

Sequenced at Silent Running Studios by George Davies and Jeff Willmot 1992.
Re-recorded, engineered, mixed and produced at Wud Records Studio One by George Davies 2015.

Performers:

PJ Speed – vocals
Zak Black – guitars
Maxx Damage – bass

Fun Facts:

  • Prisoner was originally written and performed by Alien Heat and was one of the last complete songs they managed to play from beginning to end.
  • It is in the key of Bm.
  • Along with Traveller, this song was going to be recorded by Pete and George before George went to Salford to study music at university.
  • As it happens, he stayed in Exeter and worked in Silent Running Studios for several years.
  • Pete’s inspiration for this song was Jim Henson’s beautiful and allegorical film The Dark Crystal.
  • The contributions to this song from Richard, Marc and Graham have been lost to the mists of time, but they are probably each worth a small credit here nevertheless.


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