I think these lyrics are an allegory for the fairy tales of Islam and the fairy tales of all religions as well as an allegory for the roots of prejudice. But I might be wrong.
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A Trick Of The Tail
Bored of the life on the city of gold
He'd left and let nobody know.
Gone were the towers he had known from a child,
Alone with the dream of a life
He travelled the wide open road,
the blinkered arcade,
In search of another to share in his life.
Nowhere.
Everyone looked so strange to him.
"They've got no horns and they've got no tail
They don't even know of our existence.
Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?", he cried
And wept as they led him away to a cage
Beast that can talk, read the sign.
The creatures they prodded and pushed at his frame
And questioned his story again.
But soon they grew bored of their prey
"Beast that can talk?
More like a freak or publicity stunt."
Oh
No,
"They've got no horns and they've got no tail
They don't even know of our existence.
Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?" he cried
And broke down the door of the cage and marched on out.
He grabbed a creature by the scruff of his neck, puinting out:
"There, beyond the bounds of your weak imagination
Lie the noble towers of my city, bright and gold.
Let me take you there and show you a living story
Let me show you others such as me!"
"Why did I ever leave?"
"They've got no horns and they've got no tail
They don't even know of our existence
Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?" he cried
And wept.
And so we set out with the best and his horns
And his crazy description of home.
After many days journey we came to a peak
Where the beast gazed abroad and cried out.
We followed his gaze and we thought maybe we saw
A spire of gold - no, a trick of the eye that's all,
But the beast was gone and a voice was heard:
"They've got no horns and they've got no tail
They don't even know of our existence ......."
Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold
That lies in the deep distance?
"Hello friend, welcome home!"
"A Trick of the Tail" is copywrited by Atlantic Recording Company, 1976.__________________________________________________________________________
Better than putting my mediocre version up here is the best version I can find.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AryXkeAoCec