“Do you hear the people sing?”

So the politicians say…

And they raise their voices and cry

At me

Year by year, and day by day.

 

 

The state is prepared to do it!

Come and give your votes away!

“Do you hear the people sing?”

But do they truly hear it?

 

They shout:

“All those dreadful people, all antiquated children!”

Can’t they see the worlds progressing?

A world that they’re a part of?

 

We pass the laws and beat the drums

And ask still again:

“Do you hear the people sing?”

“Do you hear the people sing?”

 

And the bloody waters of Syracuse boil up from the ground

And the golden stars fall one by one from the sky

The cattle cars awaken

And the gallows re-advance

“Do you hear the people cry?”

“Do you hear the people cry?”

 

And they shout:

Of course not they are singing;

Those cries you hear are lies!

They cry at our laughter,

They are antiquated cries!

 

They do not know happiness, or usefulness

only age!

Let progress rule the people!

Hark! Listen to it rage!

Oh listen to it rage!

 

And all the soft flowers of summer loose their beauty in monotony

They say:

Don’t you understand that complacency is decency?

Why question what is wrong?

Why question what is right?

 

The veil of the world comes fast and vanishes into night…

 

But I cover my ears

And make a sound

And cover my eyes from seeing

 

Just to hear the music play within;

The rhapsody of  “being”

 

“Do you hear the people sing, and rage, and cry?”

Indeed, it must be so.

I hear it in my soul with so many other antiquated cries!

Wisdom from long ago.

 

And those old voices have taught me to love

And feel joy and sing

To be useful to others to lighten the load of progress

Which is so burdening

 

 

They show me the world and who I am.

What a joy “to be”!

So let the people sing, for I hear them.

Let the people sing!