Such Times

Word comes down from hallowed halls

The day is night, now day is night

Honesty the first to fall

Wrong is right, now wrong is right

Silver tongues sing the siren tune

Sugared words from a silver spoon

The hungry child whispers, "Please"

Oh, to live in such times as these

Words cascade like poison rain

Wade our way through the lies

Even though it's all too plain

Turn our eyes, we must deny our eyes

The self-serve righteous ooze false charm

To oil the wheels and to grease the palm

At the temple gates, the homeless freeze

Oh, to live in such times as these

I can remember a landscape much fairer

Where cheats and dissemblers were soon seen to fall

Now they guffaw as they peddle their scruples

For ermine and roubles and sneer at us all

Word is out all over the land

It's the other way, now night is day

All for show, there's nothing planned

Feet of clay, they drag feet of clay

All for show with no redress

When they go who clears the mess?

When we rise up from our knees

Oh, to live in such times as these

When the shadow finally goes

Oh, to live in such times as those