When the last of the echoes fades
When the cymbals and the strings have died away
When I am left with just the ringing in my ears
I take a breath and I settle down
I try to count the things that really count
To figure out what I've done with the last few years

And after all the struggle and the strain
And after all the loss for little gain
The harmonies have faded away
But the melody remains

I grew up in the countryside
There I could have lived, and I could have died
I could have had running water and security
But I took a train up to London town
Lost my money and immersed myself in sound
In lame jobs, late nights, poor diets and poverty

And after all the struggle and the strain
And after all the loss for little gain
The harmonies have faded away
But the melody remains