Ian Anderson - Beastie lyrics

From early days of infancy, through trembling years of youth Long murky iddle-age and final hours long in the tooth He is the hundred names of terror --- creature you love the least Picture his name before you and exorcise the beast He roved up and down through history --- spectre with tales to tell In the darkness when the campfire's dead --- to each his private hell If you look behind your shoulder as you feel his eyes to feast You can witness now the everchanging nature of the beast Beastie If you wear a warmer sporran, you can keep the foe at bay You can pop those pills and visit some psychiatrist who'll say --- There's nothing I can do for you, everywhere's a danger zone I'd love to help get rid of it, but I've got one of my own There's a beast upon my shoulder and a fiend upon my back Feel his burning breath a heaving, smoke oozing from his stack And he moves beneath the covers or he lies below the bed He's the beast upon your shoulder. He's the price upon your head He's the lonely fear of dying, and for some, of living too He's your private nightmare pricking. He'd just love to turn the screw So stand as one defiant --- yes, and let your voices swell Stare that beastie in the face and really give him hell