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Composer:   Ed Hooke
Date of Composition/Copyright:   1994-5
Date of Recording:    2005

Commentary
An open letter from me to Cassandra.

Musically this song features a couple of “nods” to Pink Floyd & to Gang of 4.

Whatever happened to you?

Were you really mad?
- out on your own?
- constantly misunderstood?

What are these spectres?
Why are they looking at me?
There is one with an axe,
a soldier with a sword,
a family in silence waiting.

Another Mad Message

Were you feared and hated?
- pushed away?
Were you frightened?
You seemed so brave.
You seemed so wise
but Time has woven you a cloak
of political lies
so I can't reach you.
I search but I can't find you.
Oh Cassandra, where are you? 

What did you foresee?
- a firebrand brother and a thousand ships?
- noble Hector's sordid death?
- your father butchered on the altar steps?
Who was that tortured priestess
snatched from the Goddess?

Did the so-called Great King treat you well?
and did you bear him sons?
- and perish together in a far off land?
- so much I need to know....

What are these spectres?
Why are they looking at me?
There is one with an axe,
a soldier with a sword,
a family in tatters wailing.

From princess to slave
you knew life & loss & death & truth
so I thought you'd understand.
Can you see why I call to you?
If you were mad then I'm mad also.
If only I could talk with you
- hear your voice and touch you
- know after all that it's OK.

Over sea and terrain
but I can't travel back through time.
I'm still searching for clues
from the ruins of your ancient home
to the City of Gold where the sun went down on you

but even if amongst these crumbling stones
I should stumble upon your bones
I wouldn't know - and anyway it wouldn't be you.
(The dust escapes between my fingers.)
Empty vessels.
Déjà vu.

Please pray to your Goddess for me
to Athena, to Apollo and to Hecate.

Am I the one with the axe?
- the soldier with the sword?