Eastern Intrigue
Mystical Musings Unveiled: Todd Rundgren's Eastern Intrigue
Lyrics
As the sun rises in the east
Symbolizing the beginning or dawn of something.
As the wind blows the fog across the sea
Describing natural elements affecting the environment.
As the hand of Man creeps across the face of the world
Reflecting the impact of human influence on the world.
Caught in a web of glamours
Entangled in a complex system of illusions or enchantments.
Persian perfume and oriental eyes
Evoking sensory experiences associated with the East.
Yogi in knots and Sufi wise
Reference to a yogi in meditation and a Sufi mystic.
Master sublime and swami high
Referring to spiritual masters and teachers.
Through in some Voodoo on the side
Introducing mystical practices like Voodoo.
And a dash of the old Kung Fu
Mention of traditional Chinese martial art, Kung Fu.
Lord you got me strung out on eastern intrigue
Expressing fascination or obsession with Eastern mysteries.
Chapter six and verse eleven
Referring to a specific chapter and verse in a religious text.
If you want to get to heaven
Implying a condition for reaching a spiritual destination.
You've got to ask the Man who owns the Property
Suggesting seeking guidance from the ultimate authority.
Ya gotta dance your dance
Encouraging individual expression and performance.
And do your act
Emphasizing the need to capture the attention of a higher power.
And get His Big Attention that's a natural born fact
Stressing the certainty of attracting divine attention.
I'm on my knees, one question please
Expressing humility and posing a question to the divine.
Will the real God please stand up?
Challenging the various representations of God.
Jesus and Moses, Mohammed, and Sri Krishna
Listing major religious figures from different traditions.
Steiner, Gurdjief, Blavatsky, and Bhudda
Referencing influential spiritual figures and thinkers.
Guru Maharaji, Reverend Sun Myung Moon
Naming contemporary religious leaders.
On the banks of the Holy Nile
Describing a mystical scene along the Nile River.
As the palm tree sways at the base of the sphinx
Setting a serene image with a palm tree and the Sphinx.
'Neath a crescent desert moon many thousands
Comparing the age of civilizations under the crescent moon.
younger than ours
Highlighting the relativity of time.
In fact, forget about time completely
Encouraging a conceptual view of time.
Think of it in the abstract please
Encouraging abstract thinking about time.
Think of the swaying tropic trees
Imagining tropical trees in a swaying motion.
One of your many destinies
Highlighting multiple possible destinies.
Like having a hot peyote tea
Metaphorically comparing experiences to a potent tea.
In the palace of Fu Manchu
Placing the listener in a mystical setting.
Lord you got me strung out on eastern intrigue
Reiterating the fascination or obsession with Eastern mysteries.
Sell your wife and pawn your heater
Using humor to suggest extreme actions for spiritual pursuits.
Buy the new Bhagavad Gita
Encouraging the acquisition of a sacred Hindu scripture.
Do the pranayama 'til your spine gets sore
Advocating a yogic breathing practice for spiritual awakening.
I'll tell you for free
Asserting a message received from a divine source.
'Cause God told me
Claiming divine confirmation through consultation with religious authority.
We checked it with the Pope and so we all agree
Humorous reference to consulting the Pope for validation.
I'm on my knees, one question please
Repeating the humble question to the divine.
Will the real God please sit down?
Humorously urging God to take a seat.
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