(Fripp/Wetton/Palmer-James)
Shine, shine, the light of good works shine
The watch before the city gates depicted in their prime

That golden light all grimy now
Three hundred years have passed
The worthy Captain and his squad of troopers standing fast


The artist knew their faces well
The husbands of his lady friends

His creditors and councillors
In armour bright, the merchant men


Official moments of the guild
In poses keen from bygone days
The city fathers frozen there

Upon the canvas dark with age

The smell of paint, a flask of wine

And turn those faces all to me
The blunderbuss and halberd-shaft
And Dutch respectability


They make their entrance one by one
Defenders of that way of life

The redbrick home, the bourgeoisie
Guitar lessons for the wife


So many years we suffered here
Our country racked with Spanish wars
Now comes a chance to find ourselves

And quiet reigns behind our doors
We think about posterity again


And so the pride of little men
The burghers good and true
Still living through the painter's hand

Request you all to understand