the squirrel crossed the road

like a ribbon on a fan

and the afternoon cicada

threw a spell across this land

and the waves rolled off the Georgian rocks

and threw a friend upon the sand



oh None

now I understand

that the searching never stops

until you have a man in mind

second booth the King's Head

leave the ordinary men behind

go ask them to play

all the glorious love songs they can find



as for you, Dewar

now I understand

that the searching never stops

until you have a drink in hand

drinking to your gloom

in the slow-whirl licensed room

ah, yes - she was lovely

you told us (many times)

'neath the moon



the squirrel crossed the road

like a ribbon on a fan...



oh Madam

now I understand

that the searching never stops

until things are out of hand

then you jump up to heaven

pull down the wrath of God

you're alive when men are falling down

suspended when they're not



and oh Thomas

now I understand

that the searching never stops

until you are a man

whether early morning hunting deer

or women in the sand

that measured raging overdrive

makes you feel alive

a man



the squirrel crossed the road

like a ribbon on a fan...



oh Sal

now I understand

that the searching never stops

until you're in a foreign land

haunting yourself at Delphi

or melting in Lausanne

or good times in Marbella

(yes - you have a lovely tan)



and Oh Little One

now I understand

that your searching never stops

until you leave your head

you want peace

thank God you laugh at what your friends said

they said - barefoot in the Himalayas

he'll just find his feet have spread

but in you I have greatest faith



the squirrel crossed the road

like a ribbon on a fan

and the afternoon cicada

threw a spell across this land

and the waves rolled off the Georgian rocks

and threw a friend upon the sand