Chorus

Roll back the years,
Roll back the years.
With what we know now, it'd be different somehow
If we could roll back the years.

Verse 1

When man first gazed upon the sea, it went to the end of his world.
Beyond its edge lay only dreams 'til mankind's sail unfurled.
A cautious step into the waves as the four winds filled his sail.
Exploring new lands one by one, sharing quarters with the whale.

Chorus

Verse 2

Sailors came from northern lands to plunder the ocean's gold.
The whale was so very big, a wonder to behold.
For many years the slaughter ran, sent a legend to its grave.
History calls it the power of greed, their own time called it brave.

Chorus

Verse 3

A lonely whale swims the deep, searching for her mate.
The sole survivor of her breed, learning of her fate.
North to south she vainly seeks 'til she herself is gone,
Living only for our children now in fable and in song.

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Chorus

Descant on the second and third lines of the last two choruses:
"You'd think that we'd have learned somehow,
Be a little wiser now.
Ahh,..."