Last Century

Some old hippie in my kitchen and it seems he isn't leaving
And he's giving me his litany of things that he believed in
His whole life was dedicated to the lost and hopeless causes
But then he stops his little speech and fills his pipe
And smiles and pauses and says
There are achievements even humankind would find hard to undo
But then I guess they said the same around this time
Last century too
Yes I bet they fooled themselves as thoroughly
As me and you
The law that fruit in bowls is there to make yours without remorse
The fine custom that round lunchtime
You just pay two for a three-course
The convenience that pressure
On the pedal brings propulsion
And the sudden change of colour
As a result of emulsion
There are achievements even humankind
Would never undo
But then I guess they said the same around this time
Last century too
Yes I bet they fooled themselves as thoroughly
As me and you
What did he mean
Maybe 1912 or 13
Not long to wait
Until this song goes out of date
So say a kind word between friends that has no end
And isn't flattery
Praise the beauty of a book that isn't
Running out of battery
The fact that David Hemmings Wore white denim without grass stains
And the rule that the conductor
Doesn't bother on the last train
There are achievements even humankind
Would never undo
But then I guess they said the same around this time
Last century too
Yes I bet they fooled themselves as thoroughly
As me and you