The opening has these lovely cross-rhythmic things that made me question whether it was in a weird time signature. I think it isn't, but just has some syncopation that implies it without it actually happening.

The simple spoken word sounds almost like a public service announcement, and I was reminded of the tendency of 90s dance acts to use those in their tracks, although this is much more chilled and maybe a bit trip hop.

I loved this for so many reasons. First of all, it's just a lovely, dreamy piece of music, one in which I could happily lose myself for a while. As it happens, I have those words more or less memorized, so I had the pleasure of working through some of my favorite lines in my mind as I drifted along on the music. That opening couplet gets me every time--and I could happily sit with that mystery for a while. The 'trickle through your fingertips' verse is my favorite, though, as it seems to encapsulate my experience in the world

The soundscape is cinematic and reminded me a lot of some of Peter Gabriel's stuff. And the vocal reminded me of some of the work of William S Burroughs, especially the records he made with Bill Laswell's band Material. This is really killer stuff! Love the outro.

This is as much an invocation as it is a song. And oh man, this is *dark*. The outro just builds and builds in power and tone. Great atmosphere; sounds something like I imagine Barnes and Barnes would do if they started doing synthwave. Maybe I should suggest this to Bill Mumy...

yup those synths build the expectation and then the building percussion set it for lift off and the spaced spoken word works excellently. Nice

my favorite part is the last third, i really like where you took it

Mesmerizing synths. When those hang drums come in it’s absolutely magical. The spoken word is like an incantation transporting the listener to another realm. So trippy and so cool.

Damn, This was a trip. Loved everything about it. I think this is the first piece of yours with vocals, and I recommend you do more of it.

Wowzers, this is a proper experience!! I’m slightly in love with @tcelliott’s delivery, it makes the lyrics sound almost Shakespearean. And then to set them against this rich, slightly sinister music bed is really inspired. Totally unique take, really enjoyed it :)

Nice! I enjoyed listening. This is reminiscent of the remixes I have heard with Alan Watts. The spoken word and music combined in this song have almost a spiritual quality to it!

Really interesting treatment of the lyrics. I’m glad you took it for a spin. I enjoyed the kind of eerie shimmer to the backing track and liked hearing the beat when it dropped in.

The bed track is very 'you', fantastic production and it goes really well with the spoken word. 2 and a half minutes in and it really begins to rock for me. Reminds me of the Linkin Park spoken word tracks. Excellent.

Damn, this is killer. So much sonic lushness. I love how you add elements and take them away again (like the tinkling piano) and build anticipation and tension melodically, this is hella cool.

I agree with the observation that there is a darkness to this one that isn't as present in the other interpretations. But I find there's a hopefulness as well. There seems to be a sort of resignation to the struggle, an acceptance of the fact that there will be a fight or a contest of wills. I think you've done the best job of creating music that compliments the music in a way that gives the listener something to ponder. Most (if not all) of the other interpretations are supporting the lyric in one way or another, maybe giving a perspective. This seems to be something a bit more. (Or maybe I'm just in an introspective mood.)

Consider me, as ever, taken by surprise. The lyric parses surprisingly well as a great political speech (that just happens to have rhyme and literary technique if you cut the lines up the right way), the one exception being the chorus which can't escape sounding poetic. But I'm prepared to believe the agitator up there at the barricades is indulging himself a little and waxing lyrical.

The soundscape is amazing and so very immersive. The struggle here is not only very palpable, it seems grander in scale than the other interpretations. There's more at stake if we can't get this fire to light - and the fire we must light needs to be no mere campfire... this one's one to throw the 1% on. Fantastic.

Oh this gives a whole new dimension to the lyrics. It works really well as a spoken word piece with the atmospheric backing. Very nice arrangement.

Mesmerizing. It works as music and as poetry. I love the hiss you've got here that feels like a rainstorm, and the music absolutely works to support the spoken words. Wow.

This is good storytelling in all levels. Music and poetry fit's together. Just enough reading to get interested, and then the lovely music explode with good driven drum beats and big dreamy music. Extremely well done.

I doubt so many covers of one lyric has happened like this before and that just goes to show inspiring and open to interpretation Stephen's words are...
This majestic take opens up and explores another unique variation on the theme..

Dramatic spoken word. Meaningful lyrics. Engaging arrangement. This listening moment is complete and this listener is satisfied completely. Nice work all. Aces!

the music is gorgeous and the poetry reading takes the lyric in a more cerebral direction