The Marvelous Clouds

I’m the son of the wild swan of Flanders
Who sailed on a river of dreams
My mother, the swan, has left me and gone
My home is the banks of the stream

And the marvelous clouds sail by
Marvelous clouds
Aloft in the soft summer sky
Marvelous clouds

I’ve seen all the lovers in doorways
I’ve heard every promise at dawn
I’ve spent too much time just standing in line
To be told I should move along

And the marvelous clouds sail by
Marvelous clouds
Aloft in the soft summer sky
Marvelous clouds

I’ve looked at the eyes of your heroes
As they sailed home from far distant lands
The mud on their uniforms, mud on their boots
Blood on their faces and hands

And the marvelous clouds sail by
Marvelous clouds
Aloft in the soft summer sky
Marvelous clouds

My father the king of the mountain
Looks down and watches his child
Come home says he, if you hate what you see
You’re young and the country is wild

But I stay and I wait for the cannons
And the drums to stop drumming my ears
Is it too late mankind, have you run out of time
It’s a matter of days or just years

And the marvelous clouds sail by
Marvelous clouds
Aloft in the soft summer sky
Marvelous clouds
Marvelous clouds
Marvelous clouds
The marvelous clouds