when virtues fail

when virtues fail we blame the weary heart
not knowing how to tell the false from true
we cannot mark the honest from the art

at action's end you cease to play your part
and swiftly pass from ordinary view
when virtues fail we blame the weary heart

the premises were flawed from very start
nothing we saw was what we thought we knew
we cannot mark the honest from the art

shams pain us but they've something to impart
when all is finished we'll know how to rue
when virtues fail we blame the weary heart

regardless of what's written on the chart
we dare not bid the wretched scene adieu
we cannot mark the honest from the art

we are so stupid and we think we're smart
the lightning bolt does not strike from the blue
when virtues fail we blame the weary heart
we cannot mark the honest from the art