From the recording More Than Watchmen (1999)
“Turned Out to Be Wise” was this song's early title. On 11/3/98, I had just finished writing it, and after playing it for producer Rick (Naqvi), I remember him telling me, “You will record this song”, or something along those lines.
It is not by accident that wisdom is likened unto a woman throughout Proverbs. “Her” ways are pleasant, “Her” paths are paved in peace, “She” calls aloud in the noisy streets.
Lyrics
Word To The Wise
I built my house on quicksand
The fields have long since burned
I found out that wisdom
Yields much better returns
Underneath the silver lining
Deeper than the veins of gold
More precious than all the rubies
Sacks of knowledge to lay hold
I thought I’d listen to reason
In the things I was after
But the voice I thought was wisdom
Turned out to be laughter
I had held my meetings
Determined in my eyes
But the things I thought were foolish
Turned out to be wise
All her ways are pleasant
And her paths are paved in peace
I made a wrong turn at turmoil square
Now I can’t tell west from east
She raises her voice in the public square
She calls aloud in the noisy streets
But no one dares look her in the eye
’cause there’s a mirror just beneath
I thought I’d listen to reason
In the things I was after
But the voice I thought was wisdom
Turned out to be laughter
I had held my meetings
Determined in my eyes
But the things I thought were foolish
Turned out to be wise