Verse 1

I was walkin’ down the road, lookin’ for a heavy load

I’ve heard the song before you see & that’s the way it’s meant to be

I came across a strange young man, carried a rifle in each hand

He asked me for the time of day & as I passed I heard him say

Don’t go down that road my friend cause you may not like the way it all ends

& when I asked him why he aimed his guns up to the sky

Bridge

I’ve fired upon my foes & I’ve fought & I’ve killed & you need to know

I was there when war began and I’ve tasted the blood of a thousand men (he said)

Chorus

Learn to run before you walk & then you learn how to sing before you learn how to talk

Learn to wail before you cry, then learn how to live before you learn how to die

Accept before you learn to give & then you learn how to die before you learn how to live

Learn to buy before you choose, then you learn how to win before you learn how to lose

Verse 2

I followed the road down to a wood; I couldn’t turn round though I knew I should

I met a girl, who stood & stared, who sat & cried cause no-one cared

I asked her which way I should go; she looked at me & said you should know

This is the road without an end; this is the road without a friend

If you follow all the signs, you could turn crazy, right out of your mind

Spare a thought for those who tried, spare a thought for those that died

Bridge

I’ve given all down here on earth; I’ve been touched by the hands of the virgin birth

I was here when it all began; she said I was here all alone with man (she said)

Chorus

Learn to cast then learn to throw, learn to come & then to go

Learn the art of wasting time then you learn the words before you learn the rhyme

Earn the peace then fight the war, rest your head and say no more

Love the enemy & hate your friend, if you find the start you’ll surely find the end

Verse 3

I followed this road to the top of a hill & what I saw made me feel quite ill

& then I thought of you my friend & wished I’d turned around again

I saw a man nailed to a cross & just when I thought all was lost

He raised his head to look and see, he said I’ll tell you this for free

What you reap is what you sow, ashes to ashes & dust you know

& when I asked the reason why, he turned his face up to the sky

Bridge

I was here when it all began; & I’ve walked the walk in the holy lands

I have cast the net out wide & I was there on the day he died (he said)

Chorus

Learn to play then learn the rules, learn of men & learn of fools

Learn of money learn of greed, hear my advice then pay no heed

Learn to break then learn to mend & maybe you will reach the end

Learn of heaven here as well & cast your demons back to hell