The Turk

Lyrics

Challengers from afar Nearly everyone would fall Ben Franklin to Napoleon All came to take on The Turk Black beard, grey eyes, a Turkish pipe, robe and a turban A gift built to impress the empress Von Kempelen's hoax, a game-playing automaton Became a global fascination Wood cabinets, brushed copper cogs and ivory Concealed its secret inner workings Magnetic force used to manipulate the minds Nothing magical just misdirection Challengers from afar Nearly everyone would fall Ben Franklin to Napoleon All came to take on The Turk Destroyed by fire in '54 wasn't its end In many ways it was really the beginning The long held secrets could finally be revealed The enigma was to be no more Hidden behind the machine-like gears and drawers Candlelit cave for a chess master A pantograph arm moved the pieces up above Perfect grift choreography The wonder it brought remains More machines to automate Telephones and power looms Created thanks to The Turk The mindfuck know as The Turk Checkmate at the hand of the Turk