The Blind Men and the Elephant
Natalie Merchant"The Blind Men and the Elephant" is a song by Natalie Merchant, released in 2010 in the Pop genre. The song is 4:19 long and contains 54 lines and 297 words.
0:01It was six men of Indostan
0:04To learning much inclined
0:08Who went to see the Elephant
0:10(Though all of them were blind)
0:16That each by observation
0:20Might satisfy his mind
0:39The First approached the Elephant
0:42And happening to fall
0:46Against his broad and sturdy side
0:49At once began to bawl:
0:52"God bless me but the Elephant
0:57Is very like a wall "
1:01The Second feeling of the tusk
1:04Cried "Ho what have we here
1:08So very round and smooth and sharp
1:11To me 'tis mighty clear
1:15This wonder of an Elephant
1:17Is very like a spear "
1:41The Third approached the animal
1:44And happening to take
1:48The squirming trunk within his hands
1:51Thus boldly up and spake:
1:54"I see " quoth he "the Elephant
2:00Is very like a snake "
2:03The Fourth reached out an eager hand
2:06And felt about the knee
2:10"What most this wondrous beast is like
2:13Is mighty plain " quoth he;
2:16"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
2:19Is very like a tree "
2:43The Fifth who chanced to touch the ear
2:47Said: "E'en the blindest man
2:51Can tell what this resembles most;
2:53Deny the fact who can
2:57This marvel of an Elephant
2:59Is very like a fan "
3:04The Sixth no sooner had begun
3:08About the beast to grope
3:11Than seizing on the swinging tail
3:14That fell within his scope
3:18"I see " quoth he "the Elephant
3:22Is very like a rope "
3:44And so these men of Indostan
3:48Disputed loud and long
3:51Each in his opinion
3:54Exceeding stiff and strong
3:58Though each was partly in the right
4:00And all were in the wrong
4:04So oft in theologic wars
4:06The disputants I ween
4:10Rail on in utter ignorance
4:13Of what each other mean
4:16And prate about an Elephant
4:19Not one of them has seen
It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind) That each by observation Might satisfy his mind The First approached the Elephant And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side At once began to bawl: "God bless me but the Elephant Is very like a wall " The Second feeling of the tusk Cried "Ho what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp To me 'tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear " The Third approached the animal And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands Thus boldly up and spake: "I see " quoth he "the Elephant Is very like a snake " The Fourth reached out an eager hand And felt about the knee "What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain " quoth he; "'Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree " The Fifth who chanced to touch the ear Said: "E'en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan " The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope Than seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope "I see " quoth he "the Elephant Is very like a rope " And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long Each in his opinion Exceeding stiff and strong Though each was partly in the right And all were in the wrong So oft in theologic wars The disputants I ween Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen
Translation
Select a language to see the translated lyrics.