Lyrics

How can we hear the reel and the raga?
How can we hear the dirge and lament?
And how can we hear the blue note rebelling?
And how can we hear the forced cadence?
Yet we can’t hear the crying of the times?
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.

How can we hear the umlaut and the accent?
How can we hear the unstressed vowel?
How can we hear the nasal correction?
And how can we hear the Coliseum howl?
Yet we can’t hear the crying of the times?
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.

The crying of the times!
The crying of the times!
How can we hear the stories of people,
O, but we can’t hear the crying of the times?
O, but we can’t hear the crying of the times.

And how can we hear the revving and raving?
How can we hear the slogans’ scream?
How can we hear the splashing and the flailing?
And how can we hear he ages wheeze?
Yet we can’t hear the crying of the times?
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.

The crying of the times!
The crying of the times!
How can we hear the stories of people,
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times?
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.

And how can we hear the days of our children?
How can we hear the nights wherein they lie?
How can we hear the old man with the banjo?
How can we hear him sing, ‘We’ll try!’
Yet we can’t hear the crying of the times.
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.

The crying of the times!
The crying of the times!
How can we hear the stories of people,
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times?
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times.

(optional live verse:

How can we hear the rising and falling…
How can we hear it all and abide?
How can we hear the scraping of footsteps?
How can we hear the street’s reply
Yet we can’t hear the crying of the times.
O but we can’t hear the crying of the times).