Waltz For Eva and Che

Tell me before I waltz out of your life

Before turning my back on the past

Forgive my impertinent behaviour

But how long do you think this pantomime can last?

Tell me before I ride off in the sunset

There's one thing I never got clear

How can you claim you're our saviour

When those who oppose you

Are stepped on, or cut up, or simply disappear?

Tell me before you get onto your bus

Before joining the forgotten brigade

How can one person like me, say

Alter the time-honored way the game is played?

Tell me before you get onto your high horse

Just what you expect me to do?

I don't care what the bourgeoisie say

I'm not in business for them but to give all my descamisados

A magical moment or two

There is evil

Ever around, fundamental

System of government quite incidental

So why go bananas

Chasing Nirvanas

And failing?

Better to do

What you can for a few

Than to lie—much

Plainer sailing

Tell me before I seek worthier pastures

And thereby restore self-esteem

How can you be so short-sighted

To look never further than this week or next week?

To have no impossible dream?

Allow me before you slink off to the sidelines

To mark your adieu with three cheers

And to ask you just who'd be delighted

To know that I'll tackle

The world's greatest problems

From war to pollution

No hope of solution

Even if I lived for one hundred years?

There is evil

Ever around, fundamental

System of government quite incidental

So go if you're able

To somewhere unstable

And stay there

Whip up your hate

In some tottering state

But not here dear

Is that clear, dear?

Oh, what I'd give for that hundred years

But the physical interferes

Every day more—oh my Creator!

What is the good of the strongest heart

In a body that's falling apart?

A serious flaw

I hope You know that