Natalie Merchant - The Blind Men and the Elephant lyrics

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!