The Astronomer

I am not a priest
And I am not a monk
And I don't go to church much
But when I do I stand and I sing loud

I sing loud

I am the astronomer (The astronomer)
And when I look through my telescope
I am certain of the universe
And I am filled with wonder from the stars
And I never saw anything (Never saw anything)
I couldn't blame on my mind (Couldn't blame on my mind)
So I don't believe in ghosts
(I don't believe in ghosts)

But I like to sing
I like to sing (He likes to sing when he hears the call to prayer)
And when I hear the call to prayer
Coming through the speakers of the mosques
There's a shock, there's a stillness
As the melodies twist and zap
And the air is filled with diamonds
And I wish that I could sing like that
But I don't practice enough

Practice, practice

No, I don't practice enough

Practice, practice

I'm confounded by music
And babies and laughter
And stories and goodness
Infinity and luck
I'm confused by the notion
That somebody loves me
And drugs make me crazy
And a clairvoyant told me once I've got an old soul
Oh Lord I wish I could sing like that
But I don't practice enough

Practice, practice

No, I don't practice enough

Practice, practice

(There's a man in Iran) There's a man in Iran
(He says that) Who says he talks to ghosts (He talks to ghosts)
And the way that he does it (How does he do it?)
Is he hasn't spoke to anyone alive in 42 years (42 years)
He turns his mind off every day
And stares at the wall
And he is one with the universe
And he says that every soul that ever died
Is living in the shadows of the sky

But if that's the experiment (Experiment)
If that's what a scientist would have to do (Scientist)
If that's how long it takes
I'm afraid I just haven't got the time

So I'll go home (Go home and drink)
Pour some whiskey
And I'll sigh
And when it's time to go to bed
I'll keep the nightlight on

Practice, practice