Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy - The Elephant lyrics

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(Verse)

6 men of Hindustan to learnin' 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 learnin' much inclined

Well the First approached the Elephant

& happenin' 2 fall

Against his broad & sturdy side

At once began 2 bawl

God bless me, but this Elephant is very like a wall!

& the Second, feelin' of the tusk

Cried ho what have we here

So very round & smooth & sharp

2 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 learnin' much inclined

The Third approached the animal

& happenin' 2 take

The squirmin' 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

& 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!

& the Fifth who chanced 2 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!"

& the Sixth no sooner had begun

about the beast 2 grope

Seizin' on the swingin' 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

2 learnin' much inclined

2 learnin' much inclined

& so these men of Hindustan

Disputed loud & long

Each in his opinion

Exceedin' stiff & 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

& prate about an Elephant

Not one of them has seen