Richard Harris: Gayla

Another great song from the wacky duo of Richard Harris and Jimmy Webb. Previously, they had given us bizarre songs like "MacArthur Park" and "The Yard Went on Forever," both of which I highly recommend, if only for their senseless lyrics and wild orchestras. "Gayla," which is about (I think) a little girl whom someone is trying to kill (or, perhaps, offended with a dirty joke,) appeared on the album "The Yard Went on Forever."

Lyrics:
Gayla's taking all her bows in hand
She's skipping like a stone through the garden
She's chasing her small butterflies
All through the golden morning

But what ancient beast have you set to wait
Beside her tiny garden gate?

As though you did not know
She was a child
As though you did not have
Your dagger filed
Beneath your red soaked stinking cloak

Gayla's learning all the moonbeams' names
She counts all the stars on he fingers
She could put dust on old moth wings
And fly through the golden morning

But what ancient demon would you dare unloose
Upon that tiny pink pale throat?

As though you did not know
She was your dream
As though you did not mean
To make her scream

God damn you!
God damn you!
Damn you and your dirty joke!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• richard
• harris
• jimmy
• webb
• gayla
• the
• yard
• went
• on
• forever
• macarthur
• park
• tramp
• shining
• glen
• campbell
• wichita
• lineman
• phoenix
• music
• song
• 70s
• epic

[whiteelectricwind]

If one takes the Archetype all the way to the Absolute, the lyric works perfectly if one pins the antagonist as Lucifer. I think Webb showed great courage in stating something so bold brilliantly, completely without religious inferences. The whole record is so deep and perceptive it approaches the profound romanticisms of Hesse, Dali, or Bergman.

[AmberRose77]

Over the years, I've always wondered who that blonde girl is pictured with Richard on the album cover. Just a model? I assume she's supposed to be Gayla? I would also love to know what Jimmy Webb had in mind when writing this song. I've always liked the song, and yes, the dark side of the song is very jarring, but very effective.

[COOPEVETS]

Who knows what Webb was thinkiing when he penned these lyrics? I only know that parts of this song always rambled through my head whenever I had to work a child abuse case. In thirty years of police work, I had this feeling in my heart as I walked out of the ER or crime scene when children were involved. The loss of innocence, the destruction of a young life by some worthless bastard always left me feeling the last line in my soul. God forgive me.

[haysfordays]

this blows me away.

[onawinganaprayer]

The depth of such an intense proclamation after a wedding ceremony.......heartwrenching ~

Webb and Harris at their finest ~

[Lazyguy22]

This is a Bat Out of Hell cover right here.