The Essence of Life

Lyrics

The moon has said the hounds howl There's mist upon the moor We'll sing you a song about Heaven and Hell And where is best to go

A stairway to Heaven is the road to Hell Don't forget to take the fork at the end

One is climbing, the other's sliding Along some unusual ways By some odd places As it winds its way Down, down, down Down, down, down

Essence of life is its corrigible root Learn to ride and learn to shoot Learn to live well among friends of the cloth And always be good to your ma and pa

Everyone, I guess, is brought up the same Always be fair, play by the rules of the game Whatever it is, wherever it's played Whenever that is on life's great stage

The dice roll and coin comes up heads Visions of sugar plums dance in our heads

But don't be deceived, and don't be betrayed Be good to each other Believe that today

Chronology

• Red Gold

Interpretations

• "Visions of sugar plums dance in our heads" is a reference to the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas"