Todd Rundgren - Zen Archer (Lyrics Below) (HQ)

Zen Archer from A Wizard, A True Star.
LYRICS:
Pretty bird with feathers falling
Pretty as a lady calling
For her pink and midnight lover
As she stares into the water
And a yellow moon is rising
And there can't be no disguising
That the pretty bird is dying
With a silver arrow lying at its side
Rivers of blood,
Oceans of tears,
Life without death,
And death without reason
To the whole United Nations,
To your greatest expectations
To the moment that you realize
As a dark figure slips from out of the shadow
Pretty bird closes its eyes, pretty bird dies
Another pretty thing dead on the end of the shaft
Of the Zen Archer
A man in parts forgotten
With an outlook that is rotten
And an attitude to match it
Finds relief inside a hatchet
And he halved someone in Boulder
Justifiability is in the hands of the beholder
And you just don't know what people will do next
Mountains of pain,
Valleys of love,
Death without life,
And life without meaning
To the promise kept and broken
To the love that's never spoken
Just as surely as I'm in your ears
A dark figure slips from out of the shadow

[@lindsayclark8480]

My all time favorite Todd Rundgren track, which is saying something. A musical genius who with this album intentionally chose to be an artist, NOT a pop star.

[@nutshell1127]

Which makes him a star - to us :) - met him once in the 1970's - a gentleman - couldn't believe how nice he was

[@jacobcastro1885]

To the love that's never spoken!

[@trentonbates3114]

You know you gotta be doing somthing right as an artist, when you make your listener feel like there a part of something greater by just knowing your music

[@usandthemakakelly2535]

A dark figure steps...

[@usandthemakakelly2535]

I feel you

[@janicemarie9883]

And you are 73 years ..Earth age and still cranking them out!!!

[@scxxch.thomson1999]

this song is nuts. it's distinctly 70s but it also almost sounds like it could come out today from like a baroque pop/Indie darling epic. fuggin sweet.

[@h00liganismo1]

Yeah I def hear the influence on Grizzly Bear and Flaming Lips among others

[@marklar5334]

@@h00liganismo1 Yeah I can almost hear Flaming Lips covering this.

[@largactilhat]

@@marklar5334Would like to hear that one. They’d surely mike up an archery bow and target. And turn it up.

[@kevinmcgiffin10]

Loved it from the first note. Tod influence came from Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera and other stage stuff his family exposed him to early age. I saw soo many operas and plays at an early age cuz my oldest sister was a drama major in college KENT STATE and ELLET HIGH SCHOOL early 70s. I appreciate that exposer now...thanks dad 👍🙏

[@dalegriffin6768]

"Death without Life,and Life without meaning"

[@dalegriffin6768]

Alot of people don't realize that Todd can play every instrument,the man is truly a musical genius, some try to compare him to Prince,Todd was way more talented,he could do anything musically

[@keithparker1346]

Prince was a Todd fan apparently

[@ssodeksonify]

Best song from his best album. Period.

[@delyoutube6107]

I just feel sorry for all the people who have\will never hear\d this song btw im really drunk and cant really see the key board

[@WolfandCatUnite]

Yes

[@ronaldgosselin6400]

Anybody I know, who gives this man's music a good listen, has been pleasantly amazed.

[@DarylBarnett]

does this make anyone else CRY???? every single time i listen to it, something inside breaks open, a higher plane heart chakra tweak, or something cosmic.... no song anywhere else affects me like this does, THANK YOU TODD FOR BEING SO REAL

[@tonybates7870]

Sounds like a cross between early Brian Eno and Surf's Up-era Beach Boys. Brilliant.

[@Tristan.Suba.44]

A Brian’s stuff, indeed 😉

[@cobsters2138]

Love how the song has a very somber yet comforting feeling with his background vocals near the end

[@choptop81]

this song is the opposite of comforting

[@cobsters2138]

Eh that’s just my opinion. I think the ending has a sorta chill ‘life goes on’ vibe despite the song being super chaotic.

[@zachsmith3]

@@choptop81 I disagree

[@dangatton7138]

we listened to this album origionaly in Quad.. the arrows going through all 4 speakers was awsome.. just a great Album!!

[@janicemarie9883]

Genius..

[@WolfgangBear1]

In the late 70's..... this album changed me 😍

[@Razzradio]

Same here

[@joelhoulette3508]

Who else but rundgren could write a song like this. His creativity is truly astounding. The sax solo transitioning into the guitar solo is incredible. When this album came out it was panned by most critics. What do they know.

[@keithparker1346]

Critics tend to be idiots paid to promote stuff I like how AWATS album is freakily inventive for its first half and then almost conservative nostalgia for the second half. It's one of my favourite albums...used to listen to this almost daily in my car while driving

[@jakieboo]

Right!

[@DrSaav-my5ym]

The experience of listening to this song transcends description, this is one of the best songs of all time.

[@jerryhoward8133]

Very technically ahead of its’ time. Very Ambitious Album which alone warrants his admission into RRHF. No doubt a Musical and Production Genius.

[@rocketsummer]

i haven’t heard this song in years. it used to come up all the time on spotify shuffle after i’d play a prog album and let the radio feature keep going. now i don’t hear it anymore for some reason. i just remembered it today. absolutely incredible.

[@ericwood2466]

Man F*CK STEALIFY

[@kevinmcgiffin10]

Wizard album shows the world how exquisitely Todd can put together so many emotions . One of my favorites. Just keep comin back. Aahhhh feels sooo good. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@kevinmcgiffin10]

Todd is a genius .

[@chriskozak7356]

Rest In Peace Dave Sanborn. Killer sax at the end of this.

[@pevsfreedom]

I just found this album yesterday. This is simply superb.

[@TrailToughTrailers]

I've been a Todd fan since the early years. I LOVE his first 4/5 albums. I was never able to understand, or hear clearly the lyrics of this song until today when I read them.... wow, WOW, this is a lot darker than what I thought was being said (which, again I wasn't able to understand, but guessed). I would love to hear Todd's story of how this song came about...

[@h.m.7218]

He actually once said even he didn't know what it was about...

[@stevensutcliffe9464]

Standout track from a magical album. The sax guitar solo is incredible. Life-changing music.

[@jerryhoward8133]

It’s been said so many times Rundgren is a genius, needs to be in R&RHF, transcends a lot of standards etc. All true and more. This song is so amazing in so many ways. Chronic, Bose headphones and an open mind. Supa Dupa.

[@tonybates7870]

Are you telling me that Todd Rundgren is not in the R&R HOF? Ridiculous.

[@richardwood9842]

Todd Rundgren. Thank you for so many great trips, so many journeys to the otherworld. Thanks . Keep flying until the end.

[@MrDabag001]

Ridiculous no more! 🤟

[@macarenarodriguezdellano1834]

El dia que que

[@lindawarwick8643]

Brilliant album by a true genius

[@garylynncook1560]

Yes always love Todd even from the beginning when he was with nazz

[@duppykitoon]

He played this ast night (along with all of Side One of A Wizard A True Star). They killed it. Bobby Strickland's sax solo in the outro was out of this world.

[@Kapila]

You can hear where Kevin Barnes got his harmonies from this track.

[@rileythegalactic]

i bought the vinyl record of this album from an antique store. i love it so freaking much. it's thee most unique record i have. i used to have it on my table on the side of my bed and would wake up almost every night sometimes multiple times a night and hallucinate (sleep paralysis) crazy stuff.

[@kevinmcgiffin10]

This album is what this man is all about. Signature style and production. Todd will hook'ya if your not careful. 😜

[@paulmccartneychordslyricsa7792]

Great bass!!! Great Song!!!

[@NimrodelMirage]

3:19 when that sax hits...........

[@jamespriest9658]

As a Todd fan, I'm probably in the slightly over the top. Was tripping then still tripping now. An amazing artist friend icon ...ad infinitum

[@ronaldgosselin6400]

This man is brilliant and never ceases to amaze my senses.

[@ronaldkenner2460]

The awesome thing is he played everything on this album. Loops. Tracks. All the instruments. No sampling.

[@andyinwales]

Nope. Not this one he didn't. This is Utopia #2 basically.

[@erwinwoodedge4885]

Mark "Moogy" Klingman - keyboards Ralph Schuckett - bass John Siegler - bass, cello John Siomos - drums Other musicians Jean-Yves "M. Frog" Labat - guitar Rick Derringer - guitar Michael Brecker - saxophone Randy Brecker - trumpet Barry Rogers - trombone David Sanborn - saxophone "Buffalo" Bill Gelber - bass Tom Cosgrove - guitar

[@nexionaut]

You're thinking about Something/Anything. First record and side a of the second.

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

did he shoot the arrow too?

[@nexionaut]

@@carstarsarstenstesenn That was the Zen Archer, but I'm sure it's him giggling!

[@georgemalizia652]

A perfect display of pain presented by the wizard!

[@gregsantine4155]

Masterpiece

[@markriva4259]

Hear “bow, arrow and archer become one.”

[@JenniferW.-dn3pj]

What a really lovely song. I'm just getting into some of Todd's stuff now. This album is pretty cool.

[@TheVE1957]

Magnifique morceau avec des sublimes voix ( harmonies et mélodie ). . . . . GREAT composition !

[@wintermintleaf]

it sounds like driving through the lonely highways in the plains of the frontier...wyoming, nebraska, montana, etc..

[@toddfan3263]

Todd is the best! He is nominated for the 2020 R&R Hall Of Fame and he deserves to be in there! You can vote for him daily until Jan.10/20. New this year, to cast a ballot in the official Klipsch Audio Fan Vote, you can search “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or the word “Vote” with any Nominee name on Google to cast your ballot.

[@toddfan3263]

@BLACK GSD54 That's great! Thanks. Spread the word👍

[@johnprater669]

I've always loved Todd Rundgren. Put the Carole King thing behind you. I went to Berkeley and you would have thought with the commencement honoring the new students, you would have thought nobody went to the show???? See you did lose your audience, and it was too big of a price to pay. But I will always love you. Tony Prater

[@johnprater669]

Sorry about the spelling old phone.

[@KAMCOMUSIC]

Genius!

[@usandthemakakelly2535]

Yes

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

Wish I could listen in a sound room with AR speakers through a Sansui amp and a few bowls to the whole album again.

[@themistoklestheodosopoulos6253]

This album was so fucking hard

[@krisscanlon4051]

This is just crazy good and sounds like the future and really good new wave before it became such...actually its just amazing

[@Thorum13]

What a great song!

[@Razzradio]

My favorite concert was a combo wizard and RA show.. 1977

[@harrymccabe6691]

Great LP here !! Nazz"s Ist is a gem as well !!

[@michaelsaxonson251]

Hate to be this guy, but they really aren't making stuff like this these days There are few things I love more than a rock song with a good saxophone solo

[@Euthymia]

To be fair to your perspective, they really weren't making stuff like this back then, either. 😁

[@moodyharvest]

But lots and lots of other kinds of weird stuff Eno, Roxy music, Sparks, Magma, Van der graaf generator, Amon Duul 2, Cockney rebel... just the same year.

[@ronanderson2766]

Supreme Psychedelic Beauty

[@jasontheemperor74]

Love me some Todd! Fabulous!

[@jamespriest9658]

It's always so new. There at the end of

[@passenger62]

Justifiability is in the hands of the beholder - just scans perfectly doesn't it?

[@alexrose9487]

the whole GUIDED BY VOICES career in one song ...incredible musick todd, x

[@smithjohnson1206]

It sounds nothing like GBV lol

[@drreaganeliedithphd6526]

Excellente chanson

[@krisscanlon4051]

yes indeed that franco chanson sound

[@imautopian]

genius.nuff sed. fantastic.

[@Acom987]

Great músic! Greetings from brazil

[@montannaholley]

“This album is for cosmic weridos like me”

[@asneeded4pain]

what is this quoting

[@johnprater669]

Sometimes Todd's lyrics are just blunder. John Prater

[@daveostry4863]

Another pretty thing dead on the end of the shaft... ❤

[@adnilrummut105]

aesthetics to the point

[@skyblazeeterno]

more arrows are needed in songs!

[@elmorecrane2859]

bravo

[@robertbud8084]

It's about an assassin

[@raulmoya5435]

Wow! David Sanborn!!!!

[@miguepdvoraks]

excelente

[@truewizard9452]

Gracias compañero de idioma :D

[@michelbernardo6087]

Dans chaque collection, il faut un LP de Todd, obligatoire.

[@h.m.7218]

Un seul ? C'est loin du compte...

[@michelbernardo6087]

@@h.m.7218 , au moins un ,si le gars ne connais pas vraiment.

[@samotonasiom7688]

llegue por charly y me encontre con una bestia de la poesía con una gran voz, me hace acordar a adrian belew

[@runninlikehell]

Será che? Es muy groso Rundgren, pero también es muy distinto a Belew.

[@samotonasiom7688]

Si, son distintos, pero en como usan distintos recursos tímbricos; como si tuvieran distintas voces en la voz

[@robertbud8084]

Outfoxed. Again. Sweet

[@stevenszwaja5754]

I wish I knew what it meant that a lady is calling for her "pink and midnight lover". All I can figure is that she's a candy-addict and her favorite candy is Good 'n' Plenty. Or does she have something else in mind? Any ideas?

[@thomasabbs8190]

Who is playing saxophone?

[@h.m.7218]

maybe one of the Brecker brothers

[@h.m.7218]

No, it's David Sanborn.

[@busternutt2874]

When this album came out it was favorite to listen to while doing acid.

[@keithparker1346]

Do you even need to do acid with this album?

[@busternutt2874]

@@keithparker1346 No but if you think this album is great to begin with, listening to it on acid is beyond incredible. DISCLAIMER: I grew up in the 60s & 70s so I'm a product of the times and in no way endorse doing drugs.

[@kanhaiyaful]

Omgggggggggg

[@robertbud8084]

To see the soggy ground he. It .that steps in on his return.

[@kanhaiyaful]

Eat your heart out Wings

[@jamespriest9658]

Hoover.. a bottle there on the end

[@michaelimbs9634]

Window pane left eye.

[@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms]

Sounds like British Psych from a couple years prior.

[@jamespriest9658]

OMG, it sounds like Todd. Stop comparing enjoy genius when u can

[@robertbud8084]

I wish I could be there when t h a t. Happens. Ha

[@lildude92]

idk why this song kinda reminds me of panic at the disco

[@-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-._]

ุ

[@robertbud8084]

To his owner.

[@arminbetz5858]

And like meetoo

[@jtdavis62]

Classic!