Behold the astronaut, the high command-the pinnacle of modern man Above the sea and sky he stands, unfeeling and unphased 'Til all the chaos of the universe, the strength of the insane absurd It throws him back down to the Earth, disheveled and disgraced So you build your crystal palace high up in the sky Though you won't triumph, you will try Behold the astronaut, alone at sea-he crashed into the ocean deep He'd strap sea turtles to his feet if they weren't scared of him Now there's a whirlpool that's ripening, the gyre quickly widening Where falcons cannot hear a thing and astronauts can't swim So you build your crystal palace high up in the sky The rivers of Babylon will never leave you dry Though you won't triumph, you will try Oh, you will try Behold the astronaut, so far from home-he washed up on a shore unknown He'd build a tower out of stone, but all he sees is sand Mistaking confidence for competence, he calls himself an optimist And builds until the sand is wet and running through his hands So you build your crystal palace high up in the sky The rivers of Babylon will never leave you dry What would it take to teach the man that he can't fly? Though you won't triumph, you will try Oh, you will try!