morning comes late

 

dark weighs upon us where there should be day
the distant voices do not ease our fear
there's not much movement in the heavy air

we have no choice whether to go or stay
and neither energy nor hope to spare
dark weighs upon us where there should be day

in such deep silence we ought not to stray
but cannot hope simply to stand and stare
there is no limit to how much we care
dark weighs upon us where there should be day

rules for living

 

soft now the rain
under dull grey
this is the way
we turn again

all that is plain
on this good day
is that we stay
far from the strain

we see the stain
of dirt and clay
no one could say
there is no gain

and so the main
text of the play
sadly we may
account as pain

life in the tropics

 we cannot hope for brotherhood or trust
one man is always at his neighbour's throat
women will fight over a meal or coat
and honesty is left out in the dust
what was once love turns out to be a bust
our future leader yet another goat
and happiness is getting on the boat
while right behind us one's killed for a crust
this is the world we thought was paradise
and so we ate the lotus and lay down
only to find what i now have to tell
that everything is valued at a price
the would-be hero is just one more clown
and we have made ourselves a living hell

one time long time

 

choices were made and life seemed very good
until we saw what lay beyond the cloud
all shattered now is hope of brotherhood

our rulers' heads are made of rock or wood
and yet they stand above us high and proud
choices were made and life seemed very good

the hangman comes frowning beneath his hood
and in his presence none dares speak too loud
all shattered now is hope of brotherhood

not one of us who did the things we could
survives to seek true shelter in the crowd
choices were made and life seemed very good

there was nothing that was not understood
yet when it happened we were swiftly cowed
all shattered now is hope of brotherhood

if we went back we know that we still would
end in the same place backs bent and heads bowed
choices were made and life seemed very good
all shattered now is hope of brotherhood

hoping for more rain

 

when the rules change we can't be satisfied
a moment's thought will serve to give us pause
nothing eventuates but out of pride

we can't be sure that you will not deride
all that we say each single phrase and clause
when the rules change we can't be satisfied

our urgent need will not here be denied
we see the benefits and all the flaws
nothing eventuates but out of pride

we told the truth but you just would have lied
and quickly bowed and smiled at the applause
when the rules change we can't be satisfied

we have no secrets left for you to hide
there is no one who knows the primal cause
nothing eventuates but out of pride

were we alone we just might let things slide
but once observed are subject to the laws
when the rules change we can't be satisfied
nothing eventuates but out of pride