This was also discussed and then vanquished to cyberspace limbo in an instant.

This is how I hear the lyrics:
(the further adventures of) the Time Being

They built the Pyramids,
toiled with tons of stone
Irrigated deserts,
made giant golden thrones
put palaces in India
and a dome on the roof
illustrated ceilings, praised god with strange choirs
fed the five thousand
built cities of spires


An historical travelogue of the cardinal achievements of the human race. The pyramids in Egypt and Mexico, the splendid temples in India. 'Fed the five thousand' is from the bible story about the boy with the loaves and fish.

Felt the pull of science
ravel in their minds
charted celestial bodies
and were punished for their finds


Images of DaVinci, Copernicus, and Galileo come to mind. Papal/Inquisition clampdown.

conquered snow-peaked mountains
drove jungles to retreat
were drowned in vicious rapids
and were heralded for their feats


Recalls images of the conquer of the American, African, and Australian continents by European explorers.

Fantasized in Babylon
built a home in space
scaled the wall of China
against all human odds (feast of human arts/hearts)
won battles without hope
and two men turned into gods


More of the preceeding verses visited, taking us to the space age. This verse gets interesting in its last line in which MWP and SK 'turn into gods'. They have become immortalised in their music. I have a good friend who insists he and I have been walking this Earth together for millenia...

Still they hide their faces well
unbetrayed by Heaven or Hell
only traces to be found
oh, but their history resounds


Obscure -but undeniable- gods.

disconnected they displayed
over discoveries they made
and now they wander around the earth
beyond the realms of death and birth
If you look you'll see them there
like clouds hanging in the air
and they said the earth was flat
sailed off the world into a vat
turned the planets into toys
then played marbles like small boys


A summation of their magnificent accomplishments, a swirl of gears, scales, test-tubes, and oil paints rises in the mind. Outside of their virtual Florence or Babylon, they traverse the Earth, an ongoing walkabout. Imagine those two figures walking the Earth to its last acre, never running out of things to discuss, crossing the deserts, wheat fields, and pausing at small cafes.

invented love
invented hate
hung them off the arms of fate
hear them whisper
hear them speak
seems they've found what we still seek


They've figured it out, will we? Just listen.

_______________________________________
A tremendous, sweeping song. Love it.
Thanks for bringing it to the discussion.
Cheers, Noel
no method, no guru, no teacher