The Blind Men And The Elephant Lyrics - Leave Your Sleep - Natalie Merchant

Six men of Hindustan 

To learning much inclined 

went to see the Elephant 

Though all of them were blind 

That each by observation 

Might satisfy his mind 

Satisfy his mind, satisfy his mind 

Six men of Hindustan 

To learning much inclined 

Well the First approached the Elephant 

And happening to fall 

Against his broad and sturdy side 

At once began to bawl 

"God bless me! 

But this Elephant is very like a wall!" 

And 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!" 

All of them were blind 

All of them were blind 

Six men of Hindustan 

To learning much inclined 

The Third approached the animal 

And happening to take 

The squirming trunk within his hands 

Thus boldly up his spake 

"I see," quoth he 

"The Elephant is very like a snake!" 

Then 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!" 

And the Fifth who chanced to touch the ear 

Said: "Even the blindest man 

Can tell what this resembles most 

Deny the fact who can 

This marvel of an Elephant is very like a fan!" 

And the Sixth no sooner had begun 

about the beast to grope 

Seizing on the swinging tail 

that fell within his scope 

"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant is very like a rope!" 

All of them were blind 

All of them were blind 

Six men of Hindustan 

To learning much inclined 

To learning much inclined 

And so these men of Hindustan 

Disputed loud and long 

Each in his opinion 

Exceeding stiff and strong 

Each was partly in the right 

but all were in the wrong 

So often 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!