Alchemy Ii Pt I The Elixir Of Life by Dave Walmsley from Barrow-in-furness United Kingdom

alchemy ii pt 1: the elixir of immortality (9.26)
written, arranged & performed by dave walmsley (c) 2021 silent songs
a short cat production of a prog folk recording
recorded in the musical box

here finally is the first part of “alchemy ii”. 5 more parts to follow. rush's classic “xanadu” is about the same subject, the discovery of the elixir of immortality. in that song the narrator drinks the vial of fluid and after a thousand years goes mad (as you do). in my take on it the alchemist never finds the elixir despite years of searching/travelling and eventually dies of old age a broken man. i've retained the intro from “alchemy i” (below) but arranged it differently...

the intro is a piece i composed years ago that was destined for another song ~ “edge of darkness” (based on the 1985 tv series of the same name) and was meant to be the middle section of that track. i couldn't make it work however so it's been languishing around since then until i found a “home” for it in this song. dw

i've spent a lifetime searching for the answer...
travelled to far off distant lands...
every time i thought that i was getting nearer...
the solution always slipped through my hands...
the solution always slipped through my hands...

earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)

the truth must be out there somewhere...
waiting to be found...
locked behind a long forgotten secret door...
the elixir of immortality to live for eternity...
who could ask for anything more?
who could ask for anything more?

earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)

guitar/keyboard solos

countless fools have tried and so far all have failed...
will the secret be forever lost?
i hide beneath a shroud of bitter disappointment...
destined to forever count the cost...

earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)

here i lie in the frail old body of an elderly man...
once i was strong now i'm so weak i can hardly stand...
i smile and realise the irony of all i thought i'd achieve...
i close my eyes one last time and from this world i take my leave...

earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)
earth air fire water & sky (mind body and soul)