He was already drunk, and becoming slightly pompous; the pub jukebox blared in the corner, and outside, crowds flowed with supernatural ease through the Green Park arcades, and downhill to the river, sifting through glass-fronted boutiques, leaving for Metroland and the Christmas break. I listened because I had nothing better to do: all my friends had gone, and he'd bought me a drink.
That winter, he said, I went back to the family house, which was then at the edge of a large and half-finished estate. It was still and quiet, backing onto a copse the bulldozers had missed when they levelled the heath. The drab light lent everything an insubstantiality, intensifying the curious end-of-term feeling I had, the sense that the days themselves were somehow exhausted.
Three windows took up one side of the dining room, with a steadily murmuring radiator underneath. Enamel paint curled away from the window frame in flakes and peels, and the hot metal in the room gave off its alienating, faintly acidic smell. I remember clouds drifting in, and I watched them pick up the red flare of the streetlights.
This last point emphasised by a moment of silence, which he filled with a look around the bar.
Late one night a figure appeared in the garden. It was almost pathetic; hungry-looking. boss-eyed and twisted. Under the faint light that the room cast over the gravel, I could see that its skin was made of flowers. It was hollow. It shied like an animal, and disappeared into the wood.
I knew it - you would have too, if you'd been there; it was a figure I’d glimpsed in a car park as a child; an expression crossing the face of a stranger late one night at Waterloo Station as I hurried for a train with my parents; a carving in the portico of a mediaeval church. In some nightmarish way it was particular, and it was also infinite. It was itself, it was the wood, it was the last roses in the garden, and yet it was also a wider sentience, perhaps best described as the feeling that the trees and fields we look at have always secretly been looking back into us.
The air felt charged, somehow electric, and as I stared at the place it had been, I became aware of a smell of dust. I smelt the billions of falling microscopic specks, the ghost dust-rain that surrounds all of us, all the time. For one moment of hyper-awareness I could read its mixtures and vintages, the histories and provenance of each particle of dust in the room. And faintly, hauntingly, somewhere on the edge of all the others, I smelt the surviving dust of 1978.
It was a dust of forgotten piano lessons; church halls; school gatherings in terrapin huts. Back then, to a child's nose, even the smell of glass differed from room to room, and for one second I could smell all the mirrors and the windows of those lost days, the unbounded spaces between them; it was a dust of the exhaust fumes of Austin Allegros, the naked wooden floors of a new house, bike tyres and long-discontinued cigarette brands. A dust that conjured pools of evening light, mysterious journeys, finished lives, dreads and hopes of an almost atavistic intensity.
I blinked, I seem to remember I was terrified, but at the same time so surprised, so overwhelmed with longing, with love for the past, love for the dead, that at that moment fear had no real meaning: I inhabited a bright, blank space that I'd encountered once before when I dislocated my knee on a rugby field.
Then neither quickly nor gradually, it was gone. The room returned, and with it the seamlessness, the ordinary loneliness of the night. I never saw that figure, or anything like him, again.
Days later, when the weather had broken, I looked over the hill, past the woods, and the developer's tracks and pylons. The freezing air seemed to distort the sounds of the construction vehicles, and their bleeps and revs sang like human voices. I remember thinking, 'If the world was one degree stranger, one degree more fluid, I could have escaped and joined myself back there, I could have disappeared forever. But it isn't, and I’m stranded here, split into two, getting ready for bed in a dormitory town.'
He drank. Dark had fallen; the world was moving forward confidently, tangibly.
The Green Man
The Clientele
Purchase "The Green Man"
Purchase Entire Album
Email Video to Friends Play Youtube "The Green Man" Video
Play Spotify "The Green Man" Song
View Wikipedia "The Green Man"
Entry
Receive Emails for Future The Clientele Lyrics
Link to "The Green Man"
Share on Facebook, Twitter, and more
See Recommended Lyrics For You
Share:
Copied!
Loading...
Lyrics by The Clientele
6 am morningside As The World Rises And Falls Bonfires On The Heath Bookshop Casanova Carnival on 7th Street Dreams of Leaving Elm Grove Window Emptily Through Holloway February Moon From a Window From Brighton Beach To Santa Monica Geometry of Lawns George Says He Has Lost His Way in This World Graven Wood Harvest Time Here Comes the Phantom I Hope I Know You I Know I Will See Your Face I Wonder Who We Are Isn't Life Strange Jennifer & Julia Jerry K Minotaur My Own Face Inside The Trees Never Anyone But You No Dreams Last Night Nothing Here Is What It Seems Paul Verlaine Queen of Seville, The Reflections after Jane Retiro Park Shadow Of Your Life Share The Night Six Of Spades Sketch Somebody Changed Spirit St. James Walk Step Into The Light Strange Town That Night, A Forest Grew These Days Nothing But Sunshine Three Month Summers Tonight Walking In The Park We Could Walk Together What Goes Up Winter On Victoria Street
Related Songs
Green Man - John Smith
Green Man - XTC
Green Man - Jake Bugg
Green Man - Mark Owen
Little Green Man - Brett Cain
Bowling Green - Everly Brothers
Bowling Green - Glen Campbell
Bowling Green - Sarah Brightman
Bowling Green - Railroad Earth
Bowling Green - Neko Case
Skinny Sweaty Man - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Bowling Green [MP3] - Neko Case
Frog - Nits
Someplace Green - Oak Ridge Boys
Plastic Green Head - Trouble
Tall Green Grass (Cory Branan cover)...
Tall Green Grass - Cory Branan
Contactus, The Little Green Man - Weatherbox
Green-Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
The Man In The Green Robe - Night At Church
Green - Christoffer Lundquist
Green Grow the Rashes, O - Andy M. Stewart
Green Eyes - Wavves
Green Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf
Green, Green, Green - Hank Snow
Green Green Green - Childrens Lyrics
Green Green Green - Hank Snow
Green Grow the Rashes O - Eddi Reader
Karma Chameleon - Kidz Bop Kids
Karma Chameleon - Baken Beans
Green-Bubble-Raincoated Man - Amon Düül II
Green Eyed Lady (SP) - Sugarloaf
Greeneyed Lady - Sugarloaf
Green Grow the Rushes - Altan
Green Grow the Rushes - Altan
Green Grow the Rushes - Altan
Green Grow the Rushes - Altan
Yellow Fever - Earthtone9
Run to You - Emily Forst
Green Green - Eddy Arnold
Green Green - Bill Anderson
Green Eyed Lady - Pat Travers
Karma Chameleon - Boy George
Addicted - Amy Winehouse
Flowers Are Red - Harry Chapin
Flowers Are Red - Chapin Harry
Hilda's Hair (Waters) - Roger Waters
Green Green Grass Of Home - Grateful Dead
Tulane Fight Song - Tulane
Green Street Green - Hermans Hermits
Abu Intro Turn Up - Future
The Green - Gaia Consort
Greenbax Introlude - Joey Bada$$
Blue Afternoon - Leighton Meester
Green, Green Grass of Home - Grateful Dead
Green Street Green - Herman's Hermits
Green Street Green - Herman's Hermits
Candy Man - Rising Sons
Addicted [Multimedia Track] - Amy Winehouse
Country Man - Buddy Guy
Green Grow the Rushes - R.E.M.
Little Man - Little Dragon
I'm Between - Sesame Street
Green, Green - New Christy Minstrels
Country Green - Don Gibson
Laundry Mat Music - Lil B
Pretty Green - Mark Ronson
2 Pills - Eve To Adam
Open Up The Border - Clutch
Gingerbread Man - Gucci Mane
Green Grow the Rashes - Tempest
Green - Descendents
Ghetty Green - Project Pat
Green Grow The Rushes - R.E.M
PEOPLE/SECOND HAND ROSE/DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE/...
PEOPLE\/SECOND HAND ROSE\/DON\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T R...
Chapter 8 ~Seashore and Horizon~ - Cornelius
Snow Garden - Beau
Green - Blake Shelton
Green Grow The Rushes - REM
The Wee Wee Man - Steeleye Span
Ballad Of The Green Beret - Dolly Parton
Karma Chameleon - Edson Cordeiro
Karma Chameleon [*] - Culture Club
Green Green Mabley Green - Apologies I Have None
I Love The Money - K. Michelle
Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes - Aluminum Group
Pretty Mouth And Green My Eyes - Aluminum Group
Green Tambourine - Status Quo
Green Arrows Up - 42/11
The Ballad Of The Green Beret - Independence Day
Ballad Of The Green Beret - Johnny Cash
Ballad Of The Green Beret - Barry Sadler
Green To Black - Rebelution
Green Eyes - Suggs
I'm the Man to Be - EL VY
Most Girls [Radio Edit] - P!nk
Most Girls - Hit Crew
Most Girls - Countdown
Most Girls - Countdown
Most Girls - Countdown
Most Girls [Album Version] - P!nk
Most Girls [X Men Dubby] - P!nk
Most Girls [DVD] - P!nk
Most Girls - P!nk
Most Girls - Pink
I Got Rhythm - Nikki Yanofsky
I Pray - Apache Indian
I Pray (unplugged) - Apache Indian
London Town - Donovan
Velvet Green - Jethro Tull
Velvet Green [Live][*] - Jethro Tull
Velvet Green (live) - Jethro Tull
Sally Mary - Dan McCafferty
Gilbert Green - Bee Gees
Orleans Parish Prison [Live] - Johnny Cash
Orleans Parish Prison - Johnny Cash
You Gotta Love It - Uncle Murda
On Green Dolphin Street - Morgana King
On Green Dolphin Street - Shelly Manne
On Green Dolphin Street - Pete Jolly
On Green Dolphin Street - Joe Williams
On Green Dolphin Street - Dakota Staton
On Green Dolphin Street - Teddy Wilson
On Green Dolphin Street - Bobby Enriquez
On Green Dolphin Street - Jack Sheldon
On Green Dolphin Street - Bill Evans
On Green Dolphin Street - Billy Eckstine
On Green Dolphin Street - Mel Tormé
On Green Dolphin Street - Gerald Wiggins
On Green Dolphin Street - Lionel Hampton
On Green Dolphin Street - Fred Wesley
On Green Dolphin Street - Barry Harris
On Green Dolphin Street - Lionel Hampton
Green Dolphin Street - Al Grey
La Calle Gris - Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40
On Green Dolphin Street - Ann Marie Moss
On Green Dolphin Street - Patrick Palomo
On Green Dolphin Street - Stefan Karlsson
On Green Dolphin Street - Richie Beirach
Green Dolphin in the Street - Gonzalo Rubalcaba
On Green Dolphin Street - Bunky Green
On Green Dolphin Street - Tony Rice
On Green Dolphin Street - Miles Davis
On Green Dolphin Street - Barney Kessel
On Green Dolphin Street - Phil Woods Quintet
On Green Dolphin Street - Sonny Rollins
On Green Dolphin Street - Clare Fischer
On Green Dolphin Street - Hank Jones
On Green Dolphin Street - Marian McPartland
On Green Dolphin Street - Bud Shank
On Green Dolphin Street - David Liebman
On Green Dolphin Street - Sarah Vaughan
Green Dolphin Street - Dinah Washington
On Green Dolphin Street - Herb Ellis
On Green Dolphin Street - Les McCann
On Green Dolphin Street - Anita O'Day
On Green Dolphin Street - Rob Parton
On Green Dolphin Street - Cal Tjader
On Green Dolphin Street - George Benson
On Green Dolphin Street - Rolf Kühn
On Green Dolphin Street - Paquito d'Rivera
On Green Dolphin Street - Antoine Roney
On Green Dolphin Street - Stan Getz
On Green Dolphin Street - Urbie Green
On Green Dolphin Street - Paul Horn
Green Dolphin Street - Steps Ahead
On Green Dolphin Street - Terry Gibbs
Green Dolphin Street - Ann Dyer
On Green Dolphin Street - George Coleman
On Green Dolphin Street - Steve Grossman
On Green Dolphin Street - Eddie Harris
On Green Dolphin Street - Carmen McRae
On Green Dolphin Street - Oscar Peterson
On Green Dolphin Street - Benny Carter
On Green Dolphin Street - Eric Dolphy
On Green Dolphin Street - Barbara Long
On Green Dolphin Street - Billy Jenkins
On Green Dolphin Street - Dodo Marmarosa
On Green Dolphin Street - Bill Harris
On Green Dolphin Street - Harry Connick, Jr.
On Green Dolphin Street - Red Mitchell
On Green Dolphin Street - Feather
On Green Dolphin Street - Johnny Hodges
On Green Dolphin Street - Bill Charlap
On Green Dolphin Street - Johnny Costa
On Green Dolphin Street - Dexter Gordon
On Green Dolphin Street - Rebecca Parris
On Green Dolphin Street - Tito Puente
On Green Dolphin Street - Mat Marucci
On Green Dolphin Street - Return to Forever
On Green Dolphin Street - Ran Blake
On Green Dolphin Street - Shelly Berg
On Green Dolphin Street - Jerry Bergonzi
On Green Dolphin Street - Lenny Breau
On Green Dolphin Street - Rodney Whitaker
On Green Dolphin Street - David Friedman
On Green Dolphin Street - Nancy Wilson
On Green Dolphine Street - Tiger Okoshi
