Leaves and paper
Seeds and money
To the wind you know they all
seem much the same
It takes us many years
and costs us many tears
to learn to call them
by their different names.

I met a little boy
who said he had some shells
and I asked him if he'd like to show me some
But when he got them out
He put his mother's money
On the ground beside the bag
In which he kept them secret
The shells were very pretty
And the boy and I were happy
But the wind blew all the money clean away
Don't cry little boy
Because your mother's angry
But rather try to understand her problem.

Leaves and paper
Seeds and money
To the wind you know they all
seem much the same
It takes us many years
and costs us many tears
to learn to call them
by their different names.

And your lonely angry mother
Just like many and another
Has forgotten how to know these simple things
So be calm and please be gentle
Wipe your tears away and try to give
an extra special smile to make her better
And remember for the future
If you want to keep them happy
People don't really ask you in the end
To believe in all their games
of the many different names
They're quite happy if you will only pretend.

Leaves and paper
Seeds and money
To the wind you know they all
seem much the same
It takes us many years
and costs us many tears
to learn to call them
by their different names.

Music by Michael Klein ~ Lyrics by Alan Wakeman
Arrangements by Everyone Involved
All words and music copyright © Arcturus Music Ltd. 1972 & 2008