All This Time

I looked out acrossThe river todaySaw a city in the fogAnd an old church towerWhere the seagulls playSaw the sad shire horses Walking home in the sodium lighttwo priests on the ferryOctober geese on a cold winter's nightAll this timeThe river flowedEndlessly,To the sea.Two priest came round Our house tonightOne young, one old, To offer prayers for the dying, And To serve the final riteOne to love, one to teach Which way the cold wind blowsone Fussing and flapping in priestly black Like a murder of crowsAll this timeThe river flowedEndlessly,To the sea.If I had my wayI'd take a boat from the riverAnd I'd bury the old manI'd bury him at seaBlessed are the poor For they shall inherit the earthBetter to be poor Than be a fat man in the eye of a needleAs these words were spoken I swear I hear the old man laughingWhat good is a used up world,And how could it be worth having?All this timeThe river flowedEndlessly,like a silent tear.All this time The river flowedFather, if Jesus exists,Then how come he never lived here?Yeah, yeahYeah, yeahYeah, yeahTeachers told usThe Romans built this placeThey built a wall and a temple on the edge of the Empire garrison townThey lived and they diedThey prayed to their godsBut the stone gods did not make a soundAnd their empire crumbledTill all that was leftWere the stones the workmen foundAll this time the river flowedIn the falling light of a northern sunIf I had my way I'd take a boat from the riverMen go crazy in congregationsThey only get better one by oneOne by oneOne by one, by oneOne by oneI looked out acrossThe river todayI saw a city in the fogAnd an old church towerWhere the seagulls playSaw the sad shire horses Walking home in the sodium lightTwo priests on the ferryOctober geese on a cold winter's nigh