A FOOL there was and he thought it divine 

 (Even as you and I) 

 To wantonly waste his Virgin Pine 

 (As a matter of fact he committed a crime), 

 But the fool he thought he was doing fine 

 (Even as you and I). 



Oh, the woods we waste and the goods we waste 



And the work of our head and hand, 



Brings us no profit, glory or fame, 



And contemptuous reproach will cling to our name 



In the future throughout the land. 



A fool there was who with never a thought 



(Even as you and I), 

 Wilfully wasted what cannot be bought, 

 And vainly pursuing the fortune he sought, 

 Devastation and dire destruction wrought, 



(Even as you and I). 



Oh, the toil we lost and the spoil we lost 

 And not even worldly gain 

 Rewarded the efforts of feverish haste 

 With which we have laid our forests waste, 

 And plodded and planned in vain. 



The fool stripped himself when he stripped his land, 



(Even as you and I), 



Which he might have foreseen, could he but understand 

 That God, Himself, our forests planned, 

 Which none can rebuild with a magic wand, 



(Not even as you and I). 



But it isn't the shame and it isn't the blame, 

 That grips with the force of a vise, 

 It's coming to know that we could not have failed 

 In fame and fortune, had we only curtailed 

 Our output and asked the price. 



