Janitor of Lunacy - BBC Peel Session 1971

Song Meaning

The lyrics to "Janitor of Lunacy" open with a striking invocation, addressing a surreal figure tasked with managing profound internal chaos. This "Janitor of lunacy" is immediately commanded to "Paralyze my infancy." It's a desperate plea for intervention, seeking to halt or harden early, vulnerable states. A central tension quickly emerges from these contradictory commands. The speaker simultaneously desires a radical cessation of past pain or potential, such as to mortalize memory, while also yearning for renewal.