that strain again

we cannot truly understand the past
all that we know is not enough to tell
history's a stream on which we all are cast

things happen and they happen very fast
it is all over when they ring the bell
we cannot truly understand the past

not even time to pack up the repast
before we see the ocean rise and swell
history's a stream on which we all are cast

we may recover from the sudden blast
but not accept either vision or smell
we cannot truly understand the past

our colours now hang limply from the mast
we find there is no water in the well
history's a stream on which we all are cast

the prize will be withheld until the last
we listen for that final aching knell
we cannot truly understand the past
history's a stream on which we all are cast