Lyrics This Barren Land - Strawbs

This Barren Land

I took the children by the hand
Promised to show them all that God had planned
So sad but true, this moral maze
Betrays the innocence of bygone days
You can’t hold back the march of time, I said
You can’t hold back the march of time
This blood stained desert road on which we stand
Is testament to man
This barren land
Our song of joy, the countryside
Radiant fields forever glowed with pride
That once were blessed as golden shires
Now bear the sad remains of funeral pyres
You can’t hold back the march of time, I said
You can’t hold back the march of time
This wicked wilderness in which we stand
Is testament to man
This barren land
You can’t hold back the march of time, I said
You can’t hold back the march of time
This way of no return
Is testament to man
This barren land
On sullen shores we make our peace
We pray that the howling wind will someday cease
The waves of power can never bend
They ever take their course until the end
You can’t hold back the march of time, I said
You can’t hold back the march of time
This crumbling cliff top path on which we stand
Is testament to man
This barren land