Socrates by Graeme Connors (republished with permission of the artist)

Socrates
Socrates was on to something centuries ago
when he said to know yourself is all you need to know
at first I didn't get it wrote him off as old and bent
now I've got some years behind me I know what he meant
it's the voyage of a lifetime it's the road that never ends
it's staying straight and true when everybody’s got the bends
it's working out what I’m about and letting others be
so thank you Socrates
Moses heard the voice of God and transcribed every word
thou shalt not this thou shalt not that was all he ever heard
well we can't really blame him he was a victim of his times
but let's thank God for Jesus he took a different line
like ‘love your brother as yourself that’s all you need to do...
if he asks you for your shirt give him your jacket too...
stick with me and I'll show you a place in paradise’
thank you Jesus Christ
I have to say my heroes never were the sporting kind
I gravitated to the ones who exercised my mind
even though they’re dead and gone
their contribution lingers on in me
imperfectly
Albert Schweitzer had it figured out he got the third degree
Philosophy and Medicine and of course Theology
and somewhere in his spare time he wrote the book on Bach
for him all human knowledge was a brisk walk in the park
’til he realised that action said much more than words could say
built a clinic in the jungle for the folks in Lamberéné
taught us all the simple truth of Reverence for Life
thank you Albert Schweitzer
Mortimer J. Adler was a man with Great Ideas
believed that education starts at the end of our school years
designed a life-long reading plan from Homer through to Freud
making sure our minds at least are never unemployed
proved that books are pointless if you leave them on a shelf
that we don't know just what we know ‘til we show someone else
without him I don’t think this song could’ve come this far
thank you Mortimer
thank you Albert Schweitzer
thank you Jesus Christ yeah
thank you Socrates

Songwriter Graeme Connors

Copyright 2010 The Panama Music Company Pty. Ltd.

Republished with Permission of Graeme Connors.