Bruce Cockburn Civilization And Its Discontents Lyrics

Civilization And Its Discontents Lyrics

I need a helmet to protect my head I need earphones to hear what gets said I
need a miracle to keep this little thread from snapping 



I know a
lot about alienated man But we've all heard as much about that as we can stand
It's just what happens when you let the time span catch you napping 



Two forward and one back Blind fingers groping for the right track What's to
do when a stab and a pat on the back look like the same thing? 



Civilization and its discontents When all's been said and all the money
spent Trying to beat the system of the world's events Gets you nowhere. 



Tired faces with the bus stop blues Man on a bench with a blanket of
news The young Jamaican joking with the old Jew about women 



So
many people so lost you feel sorry But too much pathos just makes you angry And
even though I know who loves me I'm not that much less lost 



Black
outline, sliding gray scale Subtle variations of dark to pale Pearl sky raining
light like hail, come on and pierce me Raining light like a vision of the holy
grail, come on and pierce me 



Civilization and its discontents
When all's been said and all the money spent Trying to beat the system of the
world's events Gets you nowhere.