Nature's Plight, What We Do Just Ain't Right

You play games with pensions and stocks  
but when it is nature you try to knock  
when karma rings humans will always be at the loss  
there are just some things we shouldn't try to boss  
 
"The rains have come early, they say  
we're all gonna wash away  
well, that's all right with me  
if heaven's torrent can wash clean  
the arrogance that lies unseen  
in the damage done since we have gone  
where we ought not to be"  
 
Human's trip on how cleaver science has become  
but how much of the environment needs be undone  
until the harm can't be repaired in a neat little lab  
do we have sufficient funds to cover that tab?  
 
"Lakes and levees, dams and locks  
They put that river in a box  
It was running wild  
And men must have control  
We live our lives in starts and fits  
We lose our wonder bit by bit  
We condescend and in the end  
We lose our very souls"  
 
Perhaps it doesn't matter in the end  
for the natives get restless in a vicious trend  
more and more seek the power destroy  
what will be of this world for your little girl or boy?  
 
"The dirty water washes down  
poisoning the common ground  
taking sins of farm and town  
and bearing them away  
the captains of industry  
and their tools on the hill  
they're killing everything divine"  
how can so many really be so blind?  
 
I go out and arm myself to the hilt  
and plan that safety bunker to be built  
they tell me federal power has run amuck  
it will be too late just to duck  
but if I say stop polluting try to be wise  
they say what I am doing is to terrorize  
 
So I will say  
 
"Goodbye to a river  
Goodbye to a river  
So long  
 
Goodbye to a river  
Goodbye to a river  
Roll on"  
 
 
Author's Note:  
 
"Goodbye To A River", not only the title of a wonderful story by John Graves but also a song by the same name written by Don Henley/Stan Lynch/Jai Winding/Frank Simes. One of the most beautiful songs Henley has sung.