we are beguiled by falsity of scale
exotic names that twist on wayward tongue
like an old coil that now has come unsprung
what's ready is perched eager on the nail
looking for all the world like something stung
we are beguiled by falsity of scale
into believing that we will not fail
that we are powerful and all still young
since the last chorus has not yet been sung
we are beguiled by falsity of scale
so many lives have crossed in winter air
and been forgotten by the hurried crowd
each of them wanting more than law allowed
all of those hustlers in the public square
who were exposed to everybody's stare
and promised more than could be disavowed
even by folk who were not then too proud
to go beyond the realm of private care
i chose to climb that hill and take that way
for what i'd read so my part in the tale
though small would follow those with greater feet
whose road was harder and whose promised day
was coming on the back of some old snail
and yet a hero had been on that street
