Gaspar Fagel (25 January 1634, The Hague – 15 December 1688) was a Dutch statesman, writer and quasi-diplomat who authored correspondence from and on behalf of William III, Prince of Orange during the English Revolution of 1688.
Fagel was born into a distinguished patrician family. Little is known of his early life, but in 1663 he was elected Pensionary of Haarlem and as such was also a member representative of the States of Holland.
In 1667 Fagel was one of the signers (the other signers where Grand Pensionary Jan de Witt, Gillis Valckenier and Andries de Graeff) of the Perpetual Edict, that was a resolution of the States of Holland in which they abolished the office of Stadtholder in the province of Holland. At approximately the same time a majority of provinces in the States-General of the Netherlands agreed to declare the office of stadtholder (in any of the provinces) incompatible with the office of Captain general of the Dutch Republic.
In 1670, he was made Greffier (secretary) of the Staten-Generaal and in 1672 after the resignation and subsequent murder of Jan and Cornelis de Witt. He was distinguished for his integrity and the firmness with which he repelled the attempts of Louis XIV of France against his country, and for his zeal in supporting the claims of the William III, Prince of Orange to the English throne.
Listen to me just hear me out, if I could have your attention
just quieten down for a voice in the crowd.
I get so confused I don't understand
I know you feel the same way you've always wanted to say
but you don't get the chance, just a voice in the crowd.
I don't know the score anymore; it's not clear anymore
I can't tell right from wrong anymore; I just don't understand.
I was sitting here thinking of exchanging a new world for old
like changing channels on the tv, or the dirt we stand in to gold.
When I was young, my father told me just the bad guys die
at the time just a little white lie
it was one of the first but it hurt me the most
and the truth stung like tears in my eye
that even the good guys must die
there's no reasoning no crimes and I never knew why
even now it still makes me cry.
If there's somebody up there could they throw me down a line
just a little helping hand just a little understanding
just some answers to the questions that surround me now.
If there's somebody up there could they throw me down a line
just a little guiding light to tell wrong from right
just some answers to the questions that I'm asking you
I keep a vigil in a wilderness of mirrors
where nothing here is ever what it seems
you stand so close but you never understand it
for all that we see is not what it seems, am I blind?
And you sit there and talk revolution
but can you tell me just who's in command?
when you tell me the forces we are fighting
then I'll gladly join and make plans
but for now only our t-shirts cry freedom
and our voices are gagged by our greed
our minds are harnessed by knowledge
by the hill and the will to succeed
and if that's not what you believe
would you let me know I'm not standing alone
that I'm not just a voice in the crowd
If there's somebody up there could they throw me down a line
just a little helping hand just a little understanding
just a little understanding to the questions that I'm asking you
If there's somebody up there could they throw me down a line
just a little guiding light to tell wrong from right
just some answers to the questions that I'm asking you
I'll keep a vigil in a wilderness of mirrors
where nothing here is ever what it seems
I'm scared to shout in case I draw attention from the powers
that preside over our minds and our lives
when they find what I want is the deadliest weapon, that is truth
Day by day it's getting louder
and day by day it's getting stronger
but when I can't scream no more and I need reassurance,
I listen to the crowd.