[Synth Fanfare Intro – Spoken Over Rising Pads] The following propositions have been urged— First: That some faith in our life is required even to improve it. Second: That some dissatisfaction with things as they are is necessary even in order to be satisfied. Third: That mere resignation has neither the gigantic levity of pleasure nor the superb intolerance of pain. [Verse 1] There is a vital objection to the advice merely to grin and bear it. The objection is that if you merely bear it, you do not grin. Greek heroes do not grin— but gargoyles do— because they are Christian. And when a Christian is pleased, he is, in the most exact sense, frightfully pleased. His pleasure is frightful. [Pre-Chorus – Rising] He said— “If these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Under the impulse of His spirit arose like a clamorous chorus the facades of the mediaeval cathedrals— The prophecy has fulfilled itself: the very stones cry out. [CHORUS – BIG, ANTHEMIC] The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution! We must be fond of this world even in order to change it— And fond of another world in order to have something to change it to! The Eternal Revolution! [Verse 2] Evolution is only good if it produces good. Good is only good if it helps evolution. The elephant stands on the tortoise, and the tortoise on the elephant. You cannot say that the cat scores unless there is a system of scoring. You cannot say that the cat gets the best of it unless there is some best to be got. We must have our own vision. [Pre-Chorus 2 – Tension Build] This is not a world— but the material for a world. God has given us not so much the colours of a picture as the colours of a palette. But He has also given us a subject— a model— a fixed vision. We must be clear about what we want to paint. [CHORUS – Bigger, Higher] The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution! We see a certain thing out of shape— and we mean to put it into shape— And we know what shape! The Eternal Revolution! [Bridge – Dramatic Spoken / Half-Sung] You cannot say there is victory unless you have some doctrine about what things are superior. You cannot say that there is superiority in nature unless there is some best to be got. The only intelligible sense that progress can have among men is that we have a definite vision— and that we wish to make the whole world like that vision. [Final Chorus – Key Change Feel] The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution! Not submission— not sitting still— but reasonable and determined men! The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution! Reform implies form! We see the shape— we know the shape— we mean to put it into shape! The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution! This is not a world— but the material for a world! [fade out] The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution! The Eternal Revolution!
