Once there was a tune
And everyone knew how it went
But as time went by
People began to forget
Until at last no one could remember
And there was hatred and wars and death

Then one day somebody said how does the tune go
There is no tune, there never was, it’s only a myth
These were the philosophers
You mean there's no tune at all
Well, it doesn't really matter what tune you play
As long as you play something
These were the religious leaders
And so the world played on
And there was hatred, wars and death

Then one day the people became weary of this song
And they all sat down on the side of a hill
And suddenly they heard a very strange voice
And somebody said that sounds like the tune
There is no tune, there never was, there never will be
Well it doesn't really matter what tune you play
As long as you play something
And you don't hurt anybody, especially me

But the people listened
And a man appeared before them
With a smile on his face
And a sad look too
And he was singing the tune
And some of the people began to sing along

La la la la la…

And the people who loved him
Decided to follow him
But the people who hated him
Decided to kill him
And they did
And when it was finished
They went back to their houses of philosophy and religion
And they sat down to their tables to eat and to drink

Suddenly, they were interrupted by a familiar voice
And they ran to their windows and looked outside
To see who it was
It was him
And they became confused and afraid
And they wondered how they could be rid of him once and for all
And while they were watching him
Something very strange happened
How did he do that
I don't really know, but he's gone
And when trouble goes, you don't ask where
He'll never return, ever again, I hope

Yet again they were interrupted
This time they ran out into the streets to lay hold of him
But they couldn't find him
Just a lot of people smiling
And they all knew the tune

La la la la la…

And when the people made a mistake
They stopped, and they listened
La la la la la…
That's how they knew the tune
Because they listened

La la la la la…

And if you listen you'll hear it
It's all around you
Just listen to your radio
Watch television
Listen to your leaders
To the authorities
To the governors
To the experts
But if you really listen
You can hear another tune
But you have to listen quietly
And you have to listen every day