old are the woods

each entry in the list provides new tools
a fact though hidden and supressed remains
the year will be much older when it cools
each entry in the list provides new tools

this is the sort of thing they keep from schools
no need to trouble any infant brains
each entry in the list provides new tools
a fact though hidden and suppressed remains

we think that we have broken all our chains
but don't see those that end in every heart
rivers debouch on the low-lying plains
we think that we have broken all our chains

the body that was once youthful now strains
we keep on going only through our art
we think that we have broken all our chains
but don't see those that end in every heart

the end has been determined by the start
we did not know this when we made the rules
each hits the target with an angry dart
the end has been determined by the start

we come here but to play a minor part
if we don't understand this then we're fools
the end has been determined by the start
we did not know this when we made the rules