Svengali

Steve Taylor's Song "Svengali"

What Steve says about it: From Clone Club News Flash Winter 1988, Winter 1988:

"Inspired by a 19th century French novel, the song tells the story of Svengali, a manipulative music teacher, who takes a young, vibrant singer and turns her into an opera star by developing such power and control over her that she can't sing without him. I used the story to illustrate a type of relationship I often observed while working as a youth pastor, where a young person would subtly be pulled away from the church and God because of a romantic involvement, usually with someone outside the faith. Like the opera singer, the girl or guy would gradually become controlled by their boyfriend's or girlfriend's wishes, to the place where they'd being to lose their sense of identify, morality and even turn their back on their faith."

Lyrics:Blue shadows
A Venetian parade
Eyes on a starlet who was yet to be made
He had the thin blue lips
And a fingerless glove
He was a hunter for a prey
To put his prints on

Oh, Svengali
Oh, Svengali
Wide eyes mesmerize
Ain't he clever
Oh, Svengali

He set stages from Vienna to Rome
He promised flowers and footlights
If she'd only leave home
When he secured her passage on an Aegean ship
She didn't know of the power
In an evil man's grip

Oh, Svengali
Oh, Svengali
Wide eyes mesmerize
Ain't he clever
Oh, Svengali

Oh, Svengali
Oh, Svengali
Wide eyes mesmerize
Ain't he clever
Oh, Svengali

I knew you when
You saw a scene in the clouds
You saw a man in the moon
And your mood was enthralling
You could weep for a falling star

He'll take you deep in his debt
He's wanting all he can get
Will your heart hold the virtue?
You've never known that power
That the evil men use

Gone cried the madman
As he slapped her to life
And then a cold wind slowly sucked him into the night
So come away to the refuge they can never control
They'll try to steal your body
But they can't touch your soul

Oh, Svengali
Oh, Svengali
Wide eyes mesmerize
Ain't he clever
Oh, Svengali

Category:

Music

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• Svengali