The Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles

Passion Play
Released: July 1973
Recorded: March 1973
Written Ian Anderson, Jeffrey Hammond, John Evan
Words by Jeffrey Hammond

Ian Anderson – flute, acoustic guitar, saxophones, vocals
Martin Barre – electric guitar
John Evan – piano, organ, synthesisers, vocals
Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar, narrator on "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles"
Barriemore Barlow – drums, percussion

[Spoken:]
This is the story of the hare who lost his spectacles.

Owl loved to rest quietly whilst no one was watching. Sitting on a fence one day,
He was surprised when suddenly a kangaroo ran close by. Now this may not
Seem strange, but when Owl overheard Kangaroo whisper to no one in
Particular, "The hare has lost his spectacles," well, he began to wonder.
Presently, the moon appeared from behind a cloud and there, lying on the grass
Was hare. In the stream that flowed by the grass a newt. And sitting astride a
Twig of a bush a bee. Ostensibly motionless, the hare was trembling with
Excitement, for without his spectacles he was completely helpless. Where were
His spectacles? Could someone have stolen them? Had he mislaid them? What
Was he to do? Bee wanted to help, and thinking he had the answer began:
"You probably ate them thinking they were a carrot." "No!" interrupted Owl,
Who was wise. "I have good eye-sight, insight, and foresight. How could an
Intelligent hare make such a silly mistake?" But all this time, Owl had been
Sitting on the fence, scowling! Kangaroo were hopping mad at this sort of talk.
She thought herself far superior in intelligence to the others. She was their leader,
Their guru. She had the answer: "Hare, you must go in search of the optician."
But then she realized that Hare was completely helpless without his spectacles.
And so, Kangaroo loudly proclaimed, "I can't send Hare in search of anything!"
"You can guru, you can!" shouted Newt. "You can send him with Owl." But Owl
Had gone to sleep. Newt knew too much to be stopped by so small a problem
"You can take him in your pouch." But alas, Hare was much too big to fit into
Kangaroo's pouch. All this time, it had been quite plain to hare that the others
Knew nothing about spectacles.
[Sung:] As for all their tempting ideas, well Hare didn't care. The lost spectacles were
His own affair. And after all, Hare did have a spare a-pair. A-pair.