The Keeper

One morning when the world was new
And first we saw the sun
The Lord lay down to rest awhile
So pleased with what he'd done
And of all the creatures he had made
He loved the man the best
And so he placed into his hands
The fate of all the rest

And all these things I give to you
To keep and to protect
From the greatest of the big sperm whale
To the tiniest insect
To rule with love and kindness
The weak, the wild, the strong
And treat my creatures gently
Only you know right from wrong

Man was so conceited
That he couldn't see the worth
Of all the other creatures
That shared the lovely earth
And one by one he hunted them
For food and sport and greed
One by one they disappeared
Each species and each breed

And all these things I give to you
To keep and to protect
From the greatest of the big sperm whale
To the tiniest insect
To rule with love and kindness
The weak, the wild, the strong
And treat my creatures gently
Only you know right from wrong

After many years had passed
The Lord came back to see
The man and all the others
That he'd left so fine and free
But where are all my silver streams
And forests dark and green
There was only dust and desert
Wherever man had been

And all these things I give to you
To keep and to protect
From the greatest of the big sperm whale
To the tiniest insect
To rule with love and kindness
The weak, the wild, the strong
And treat my creatures gently
Only you know right from wrong

Where are all my animals
The hippo and the whale
And the fish that filled the oceans
Before your ships set sail
The lion and the tiger
And the elephant so tall
I left you as their keeper
Do you not recall

And all these things I gave to you
To keep and to protect
From the greatest of the big sperm whale
To the tiniest insect
To rule with love and kindness
The weak, the wild, the strong
And treat my creatures gently
Only you know right from wrong