Although very busy with Spirit Level lately, I`m still writing solo songs.
This one`s a folk tale about Gilbert Bland Jr., a map thief who cut priceless maps from some of the oldest books in America`s most prestigious libraries, evading capture for years... and never revealing at trial or to fascinated journalists what possessed him.

The Man Who Stole The World

Style is _KIRKLND.STY (Morning in Kirkland Pop Ballad)

RealTracks in style: 2937:Bass, Fretless Electric Pop8thsRene Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 2194:Piano, ElectricVintage, Rhythm CoolJazzPop Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1765:Guitar, High-Strung Acoustic, Fingerpicking Pop16ths Ev16 085
RealTracks in style: 365:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 676:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming FolkRockBritEighths Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2364:Synth, ElectroFlutes, Rhythm Pop Ev 085
RealDrums [in Song:CongasEv16[single]: a: Congas b: CongasEv16[single]



The Man Who Stole The World

there are angels over the arctic
sea monsters swim the margins
a fire breathing horse
gallops the globe
on the first map he stole

Mr Bland the book bandit
tearing pages from the atlas of ages
when the world was still young
hurries them home
to see pygmies at the North Pole

did you find the land you`re looking for
the one Capernicus unfurled
do you like the poster wanting you
the man who stole the world
the man who stole the world


from Yale to Harvard and Chicago
he`s the scholar looking over his shoulder
disguised as a priest
cartomaniac in the stacks
the librarians enemy

Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
the aroma of antique paper
when science was an art
or was it the cash
gave maps such ecstasy

did you find the land you`re looking for
the one Magellan unfurled
will you like cell waiting for you
the man who stole the world
the man who stole the world


© Robert Cordrey Dec. 2020