New song

WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW

When ignorance is bliss, so the saying goes,
It's folly to try to be wise.
And if you can't see what's under your nose
You've probably closed your eyes.
But ignorance now is a mortal sin
And learning's the one way we grow
And the days are long gone
When we just didn't know.

When we didn't know about racism
And the plight of the black and the brown
When we didn't know about sexism
And how women are cruelly kept down.
When gayness was something to laugh at
On a lunchtime radio show
Ah, life was much simpler
When we just didn't know.

When we could eat food without questioning
The way it's produced and prepared.
When we could drive cars without worrying
'Bout the biosphere that we all shared.
When we could wear clothes without wishing
That sweatshop workers might be spared
When we didn't have to know
To prove that we cared...

We weren't evil, or vicious, or selfish,
We were good as we knew how to be.
But our world was a cosy illusion
From which we had to be free.
So we ate of the tree of knowledge
And the sword-bearing angel said "go"
And we no longer had the excuse
That we just didn't know.

And now through the traps and the pitfalls
We stumble and grope in our shame
And we try to be better and kinder
But we know there's no winning this game.
For knowledge is power, and power corrupts
Absolutely, above and below
And with power comes responsibility
And we reap what our leaders sow
And no matter how pure our intentions may be
We have recognised ourselves as the foe
And we cannot pretend any more
That we just didn't know.
But it's hard not to long for the days
When we just didn't know.

Tune on the way, as soon as I can get Piano Man and its numberless siblings out of my head.