Young and Foolish

Peacock's wings and silver rings, kaleidoscopic eyes
Golden threads that dangle from pavilions in the sky
Ornamented architraves as white as moonlit snow
But you have to be young and foolish to want to go
And Merlin in his white mantle and his crown of pure desire
Sits astride an irridescent dragon breathing fire
Staring with fierce eyes that ask: "do you really want to know?
"You have to be young and foolish to want to go"

Oh, I was young and foolish once, I rode a dragon fly
I watched the Moon turn blazing red and melt into the sky
And I looked down on the world below and I saw it with new eyes
But the thunder clapped and darkly did resound
And the clouds of confusion gathered round
And I found myself hurtling to the ground

Oh, the tightrope walker with his pole and concentrated frown
Stiffly lifts his chin up to prevent him looking down
At the pit of burning bodies writhing there below
Yes, you have to be young and foolish to want to go
And the boatman waits for customers by the river dark and wide
And the hand out speaks of promises when you get to the other side
But he knows as he makes ready and he sets the oars to row
Thjat you have to be young and foolish to want to go

Oh, I was young and foolish once, I didn't have a care
I wore some beads around my neck and a garland in my hair
And I looked into the mirror and I saw a Godhead there
But he faded so quickly from my sight
And in his place were two eyes full of fright
And I knew I was on the brink of night

Oh the mild-mannered therapist, his ideas in full bloom
Speaks to prisoners of conscience seated upright in his room
And he tells them all you have to do is let your feelings flow -
But you have to be young and foolish to want to go
And the green-haired urban buccaneer, he's into doing harm
With his leather coat and safety pins and a girl upon each arm
But the older people watch, they've got no wild oats left to sow
For you have to be young and foolish to want a go

Oh I was young and foolish once, it was a day in spring
The sun was shining on the flowers, I could hear the blackbird sing
And I felt great love and tenderness like I was born upon a wing
But lately that joy has gone astray
And winter cold turned everything to grey
And I wonder if the iceis here to stay

Songs of praise that lift towards the vaulted roof of time
Transcending all morality and the shadowed shapes of crime
Thrown by the white light onto the narrow ledge below
Where you have to be young and foolish to want to go
and the spirits of the liberated soar above the air
And they whisper fall-out messages of a bliss that's free of care
But the choir sing out the anthem, powerful, strong and slow
That you have to be young and foolish to want to go