A Puzzlement - Yul Brynner

When I was a boy

World was better spot

What was so was so

What was not was not

Now I am a man;

World have changed a lot

Some things nearly so

Others nearly not

There are times I almost think

I am not sure of what I absolutely know

Very often find confusion

In conclusion I concluded long ago

In my head are many facts

That, as a student, I have studied to procure

In my head are many facts

Of which I wish I was more certain I was sure!

(spoken)

Is a puzzlement

(sung)

What to tell growing son

What for instance, shall I say to him of women?

Shall I educate him on the ancient lines?

Shall I tell the boy as far as he is able

To respect his wives and love his concubines?

Shall I tell him everyone is like the other

And the better of the two is really neither?

If I tell him this I think he won’t believe it—

And I nearly think that I don’t believe it either!

When my father was a king

He was a king who knew exactly what he knew

And his brain was not a thing

Forever swinging to and fro and fro and to

Shall I, then be like my father

And be willfully unmovable and strong?

Or is it better to be right?

Or am I right when I believe I may be wrong?

Shall I join with other nations in alliance?

If allies are weak, am I not best alone?

If allies are strong with power to protect me

Might they not protect me out of all I own?

Is a danger to be trusting one another

One will seldom want to do what other wishes;

But unless someday somebody trust somebody

There’ll be nothing left on earth excepting fishes!

There are times I almost think

Nobody sure of what he absolutely know

Everybody find confusion

In conclusion he concluded long ago

And it puzzle me to learn

That tho' a man may be in doubt of what he know

Very quickly he will fight

He’ll fight to prove that what he does not know is so!

Oh-h-h-h-h-h!

Sometimes I think that people going mad!

Ah-h-h-h-h-h!

Sometimes I think that people not so bad!

But not matter what I think

I must go on living life

As leader of my kingdom I must go forth

Be father to my children and husband to each wife

Etcetera, etcetera, and so forth

If my Lord in Heaven Buddha, show the way!

Everyday I try to live another day

If my Lord in Heaven Buddha, show the way!

Everyday I do my best for one-more day!

(spoken)

But… is a puzzlement!