As our world collapsed around us

There were some of us who knew

Why disaster thus had found us,

And what we would have to do

To prevent such devastation

If we ever got a chance

To rebuild our fallen nation,

To again help man advance.

For we had come to know again

That there are many things

That help make up the world we're in,

Surrounding us, like rings.

Around us each, our brothers,

Here to live as I with you;

The world rings us with others

And surrounds these others too

Till all mankind is turned around

Like hoops within a wheel,

And mankind too is wrapped and bound

With all else that is real.

As we became again aware

Of nature's basic plan

We knew that we could better fare

In making space for man.

So then our aim became to keep

From losing what we knew,

To stay alive, and never sleep,

To do what we must do

To come back from disaster,

To renew the human race,

To again make man the master,

But now to know his place

Not alone among his brothers

But with all of nature too,

In harmony with others

With a different point of view.

For the world is full of forces,

Full of beings playing games;

We must all align our courses,

We and those with other aims.

With this in mind I sing you now

This story of your past

In hope that it may show you how

To make your nation last.