I met a woman long ago
Her hair the black that black can go
Are you a teacher of the heart?
Soft, she answered no

I met a girl across the sea
Her hair the gold that gold can be
Are you a teacher of the heart?
Yes, but not for thee

I met a man who lost his mind
In some lost place I had to find
"Follow me," the wise man said
But he walked behind

I walked into a hospital
Where no-one was sick and no-one was well
When at night the nurses left
I could not walk at all

Morning came and then came noon
Dinnertime, a scalpel blade
Lay beside my silver spoon

Some girls wander by mistake
Into the mess that scalpels make
Are you the teachers of my heart?
We teach old hearts to break

One morning I woke up alone
The hospital and the nurses gone
Have I carved enough my Lord?
Child, you are a bone

I ate, I ate, I ate, I ate, I ate

I spent my hatred everyplace
On every word, on every face
Someone gave me wishes
And I wished for an embrace

Several girls embraced me then
I was embraced by men
Is my passion perfect?
No, do it once again

I was handsome, I was strong
I knew the words of every song
Did my singing please you?
No, the words you sang were wrong

Who is it whom I address?
Who takes down what I confess?
Are you the teachers of my heart?
We teach old hearts to rest

Oh teachers are my lessons done?
I cannot do another one
They laughed and laughed and said,
"Well child, are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?"