0:00 The gavel fell on a summer's day0:03 In a Manhattan court, not far away0:07 A former king, in a tailored suit0:10 Stood to hear the bitter fruit0:14 Of thirty-four whispers, bought and sold0:18 A story now that's getting old0:21 The jury sat, a dozen strong0:25 And thirty-four times, they found him wrong.0:29 And the headlines turn the page0:32 Upon this hurried, modern stage0:36 But it's the same old pride, the same old fall0:40 The same old writing on the wall0:43 I sing the news, but the tune's the same0:47 Just another verse in the long refrain.0:51 The prairie winds begin to moan0:54 Tearing down what folks have grown0:58 From Texas up to Iowa's fields1:01 The sky decides what harvest yields1:05 And in the town, the price of bread1:09 Fills the weary heart with dread1:12 The banker's numbers, cold and high1:16 While a funnel cloud darkens the sky.1:20 And the headlines turn the page1:23 Upon this hurried, modern stage1:27 But it's the same old dust, the same old rain1:31 The same old struggle, the same old pain1:34 I sing the news, but the tune's the same1:38 Just another verse in the long refrain.1:42 They built a mind of wire and light1:45 To speak with a voice in the dead of night1:49 Stole a shadow from a silver screen1:52 A ghost that haunts the new machine1:56 A woman says, "That voice is mine,"2:00 A human soul on a digital line2:03 We build our gods, then stand in awe2:07 Defying nature, and defying law.2:11 And the headlines turn the page2:14 Upon this hurried, modern stage2:18 But it's the same old magic, same old fear2:22 As the future makes itself so clear2:25 I sing the news, but the tune's the same2:29 Just another verse in the long refrain.
