The Seer
Kate Bush Lyrics

Long ago I heard a tale I never will forget
I heard a story that has stuck with me forever.

The time was in the telling on the bank the scene was set
The timing of the story was perfect, and it was set in a scenic location near a river bank.

The sky was rolling blindly on, the daylight had not gone
The sky was constantly changing, but it was still daytime.

She washed her hair among the stones and saw what was to come
She had a vision of the future while washing her hair by the river.

All this will pass
Everything comes to an end eventually.

There will be blood among the corn and heroes in the hills
There will be violence and bravery in the future.

But there is more to come my boy before you've had your fill
There is still more to experience in life.

Men will come and rape the soil as though it were their own
People will take advantage of the land as if it belongs to them.

And they will bathe their feet in oil as I have bathed my own
They will use oil to enrich themselves, like she did while washing her feet.

Stones will stand together as if searching for the stars
Rock formations will appear to be reaching for the stars.

And all come crashing down again before they reach too far
But they will fall apart before achieving their goal.

She turned to face the setting sun, I turned to walk away
She looked towards the sunset, while I started to leave.

But then she called my name again and beckoned me to stay
She called me back and asked me to stay.

She told me of the famous sons who write their names in peace
She spoke about famous people who made a name for themselves through peace.

Yet be cut down before the time has come for our release
But they will be killed before their work is done.

Even now I wait for the coming day
She still waits for a certain day to come.

Even now she waits in the dawn
She continues to wait for that day in the morning.

For the tales she tells, for the gifts that she will sell
She waits to share her stories and sell her talents.

For the sight she knows, for a vision that still grows
She waits for her foresight to become clearer and more defined.

With the dream in her eyes no one's seen
She has an ambitious dream that no one else has seen or understands.

I listened for so long that day that I can hardly tell
The story went on for so long that I lost track of time.

If what she said was heaven sent or brought to bear in hell
I cannot be sure if her vision was good or bad.

That men of hope would stand alone and still be cast a lie
Even those with hope can be betrayed and let down by others.

Just as Romans cast them on the day they were to die
Like how the Romans betrayed and abandoned those they were about to execute.