Is It Like Today?

Many years ago, he looked out through a glassless window.
All that he could see was Babylon -- 
Beautiful green fields and dreams
and learned to measure the stars.
But there was a worry in his heart.  He said:
How could it come to this?
I'm really worried about living.
How could it come to this?
I really want to know about this.

Then there came a day -- moved out across the Mediterranean
came to rest on isles and the Greek young men.
And with their silver beards, they laughed
at the unknown of the universe.
They could just sit and guess God's name. But they said:
How could it come to this?
We're really worried about living.
How could it come to this?
Yeah, we really want to know about this.

Then there followed days of kings, empires, and revolution.
Blood just looks the same when you open the veins.
And sometimes it was faith, power, or reason as the cornerstone.
But the furrowed brow has never left his face. He said:
How could it come to this?
We're really living in a landslide.
How could it come to this?
Yeah, we really want to know about this.

Then there came a day... man packed up, flew off from the planet.
He went to the moon.
Now he's out in space, fixing all the problems.
He comes face to face with God.  He says:
How could it come to this?
I'm really worried about my creation.
How did it come to this?
You're really killing me, you know.

-- Karl Wallinger (World Party) 1993