chorus if i listen i can hear through the joy and through the tears all the children of this earth both blessed and cursed so will i this perfect day should i spare a thought to pray ask for only what s sufficient for the day a little sun a little rain a little money now and then and the knowledge of enough to eat tomorrow keep the locusts from our fields take your portion of the yield for the folk less blessed by fortune than are we decent health to work my life wine and candles with my wife sufficient store laid in to get us to next harvest little bounty from above and a husband i can love a little wisdom in such portion as i earn time to stare into the fire and indulge in small desires and a moment now and then that i can savor a little time to eat and drink time to pause and time to think just enough to curb despair and keep me whole if the recruiter comes around he will find me underground the empires of ambitious men do not concern me calm the hearts and angry beat still the earth beneath my feet keep me from suspicion and from jealousy not for me the pride of place or entitlement to grace why should i be spared my share of dread and sorrow keep our children from the grave from the plague may we be saved make our suffering no more than we can bear chorus if i listen i can hear through the joy and through the tears all the children of this earth both blessed and cursed so will i this perfect day should i spare a thought to pray ask for only what s sufficient for the day