what we understand

with simple thought we spare much grief
the depth of pain each one will surely learn
a sort of fire that leaves the harshest burn
we are not here permitted some relief
our hearts and minds are subject to some thief
wisdom we find no longer serves our turn
but for the simple life we still may yearn
our height of cynicism will beggar belief
of all the symbols ours remains the best
we aren't the ones who've been fated to fail
with no reprieve we still must reach our goal
life's a lot more than just another test
we steer a course between liberty and gaol
and if we're lucky make it through still whole

on the morrow

name we forget and then beyond recall
go names and numbers all the living fact
that holds us present we have never lacked
reason to think that someday we would fall
we know that one fate will receive us all
but if we speak we know we must show tact
it does not matter if our hearts are wracked
the thing to do is stand up proud and tall
we can't announce the meaning of the chime
the word must be avoided on the road
our minds must never touch a certain thought
all of our lives must be considered prime
we are so fearful of that hidden goad
and do not question just what we have wrought
we have not learned the lesson we were taught
we blame our forebears or we blame the time
but still we knew and any could forebode
the meaning of each travesty or crime
know that our bodies could not take the load
and that true justice always has been bought
a glow we notice coming through the trees
may liberate or make all hearts to freeze

a distant thunder

we add things up to get the sum of pain
a mere misstep and we're deep in the soup
we wait and wait but still it will not rain

it's tempting to see matters as just plain
the world needs time to rest and to regroup
we add things up to get the sum of pain

at no time will we know the best of gain
until our hopes have grown and flown the coop
we wait and wait but still it will not rain

the wind may do its best but we just strain
the proper answer seems outside the loop
we add things up to get the sum of pain

we know that we can't beat the human stain
while swallows in vast numbers soar and swoop
we wait and wait but still it will not rain

to sit and think just goes against the grain
to conquer we must do far more than stoop
we add things up to get the sum of pain
we wait and wait but still it will not rain

a name of power

we ask the gods to fill each aching heart
with answers to the pain but they are dumb
our thoughts are frozen and our bodies numb
we seem but puppets set to play a part
doomed if we but knew it from the start
the victims of some random divine thumb
while in the background lutes and lyres strum
and critics judge our pain to be bad art
allow some time and we may find a home
for all the angry thoughts that are at play
about the things that we cannot control
we're held on strings and not allowed to roam
we know our time is a short cloudy day
but still we yearn and hope to be made whole

not simple questions these

to what old fallacy will we now fall
our minds half-broken by the daily task
we can no longer answer history's call
to what old fallacy will we now fall

a sort of answer must pervade the all
truth does not hide behind an actor's mask
to what old fallacy will we now fall
our minds half-broken by the daily task

we bear a promise that we did not ask
our hearts grow heavier with fading day
wine dribbles out from the half-empty flask
we bear a promise that we did not ask

we'd trap the spirit back within its cask
and let the end of light our tired hopes slay
we bear a promise that we did not ask
our hearts grow heavier with fading day

let others waste their lives for little pay
a mission that is asked for seems so rare
the sun will set on this forgotten bay
let others waste their lives for little pay

we don't expect to flee the noble ray
but all we've learned is how to run and fear
let others waste their lives for little pay
a mission that is asked for seems so rare

we'll shave the truth down and let pare
life down to those things we most lack
we'll let life criticise the whole affair
we'll shave the truth down and let pare

the ones who answer never seem to care
they're just concerned about staying on track
we'll shave the truth down and let pare
life down to those things we most lack

if we reply will history answer back
or must we stay in place and wait in vain
the story's told by some benighted hack
if we reply will history answer back

it doesn't take too much for hearts to crack
we wait and wait and do not see the rain
if we reply will history answer back
or must we stay in place and wait in vain

no sort of explanation makes things plain
green is the colour that most masks desire
we have some hope of honour and of gain
no sort of explanation makes things plain

if we could undertake to stand the strain
we'd let matters come right down to the wire
no sort of explanation makes things plain
green is the colour that most masks desire

you won't despair if we don't light the fire
a host of worries rises with each thought
we praise the calm and will eschew the ire
you won't despair if we don't light the fire

the greatest maker is the finest liar
the greatest gap comes between is and ought
you won't despair if we don't light the fire
a host of worries rises with each thought

the signal comes to one who has been bought
he'll set the blaze and kill those who stand tall
we'll soon find out what our great gifts have wrought
the signal comes to one who has been bought

the greatest battles have yet to be fought
our hero's never yet been on the ball
the signal comes to one who has been bought
he'll set the blaze and kill those who stand tall

our lives and times the future must appal
in a false sunlight we all seem to bask
we run when we as yet can scarcely crawl
our lives and times the future must appal

so when we stop and sing and shout and bawl
we're all afraid of what we might unmask
our lives and times the future must appall
in a false sunlight we all seem to bask

a sort of apology

When I commit an error it's a beaut,
I'm driven mad when I can't be precise,
order's what separates human from brute;
when I commit an error it's a beaut.

Now some might say that this response is cute
but that with me cannot cut any ice;
when I commit an error it's a beaut,
I'm driven mad when I can't be precise.

murmur name upon name

what we envision is not absolute
the truth we seek is of a narrow kind
our great desire we cannot institute
what we envision is not absolute

hearken to violin and to the flute
music describes just what we cannot find
what we envision is not absolute
the truth we seek is of a narrow kind

the oldest practice we'd do best to shun
call it tradition and we've been enslaved
you'd never take our work to be plain fun
the oldest practice we'd do best to shun

when it is night others can see our sun
even the ones that we would call depraved
the oldest practice we'd do best to shun
call it tradition and we've been enslaved

regret's a fine thing when it is not ours
we should be saddened by another's pain
each of us retreats to our own towers
regret's a fine thing when it is not ours

day is long gone but we've seen no showers
our souls like grass are longing for the rain
regret's a fine thing when it is not ours
we should be saddened by another's pain