[Verse 1]
I met a woman long ago
Her hair the black that black can go
Are you a teacher of the heart?
Soft, she answered no

[Verse 2]
I met a girl across the sea
Her hair the gold that gold can be
Are you a teacher of the heart?
Yes, but not for thee

[Verse 3]
I met a man who lost his mind
In some lost place I had to find
"Follow me," the wise man said
But he walked behind

[Verse 4]
I walked into a hospital
Where none was sick and none was well
When at night the nurses left
I could not walk at all

[Verse 5]
Morning came and then came noon
Dinner time a scalpel blade
Lay beside my silver spoon
[Verse 6]
Some girls wander by mistake
Into the mess that scalpels make
Are you the teachers of my heart?
We teach old hearts to break

[Verse 7]
One morning I woke up alone
The hospital and the nurses gone
Have I carved enough my Lord?
Child, you are a bone

[Verse 8]
I ate and ate and ate
No, I did not miss a plate, well
How much do these suppers cost?
We'll take it out in hate

[Verse 9]
I spent my hatred everyplace
On every work, on every face
Someone gave me wishes
And I wished for an embrace

[Verse 10]
Several girls embraced me, then
I was embraced by men
Is my passion perfect?
No, do it once again
[Verse 11]
I was handsome, I was strong
I knew the words of every song
Did my singing please you?
No, the words you sang were wrong

[Verse 12]
Who is it whom I address?
Who takes down what I confess?
Are you the teachers of my heart?
We teach old hearts to rest

[Verse 13]
Oh teachers, are my lessons done?
I cannot do another one
They laughed and laughed and said, Well child
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?