A Puzzlement (谜题) - Yul Brynner/Female Chorus

There are times I almost think

I am not sure of

What I absolutely know

Very often find confusion

In conclusion I concluded long ago

In my head are many facts

That as a student

I have studied to procure

In my head are many facts

Of which I wish I was more certain

I was sure

Is a puzzlement

What to tell growing son

What for instance

Shall I say to him of women

Shall I educate him on the ancient lines

Shall I tell the boy as far as he is able

To respect his wives

And love his concubines

Shall I tell him everyone is like the other

And the better of the two is really neither

If I tell him this I think he won't believe it

And I nearly think that

I don't believe it either

Shall I join with other nations in alliance

If allies are weak am I not best alone

If allies are strong with power to protect me

Might they not protect me out of all I own

Is a danger to be trusting one another

One will seldom want to do what other wishes

But unless someday

Somebody trust somebody

There'll be nothing

Left on earth excepting fishes

There are times I almost think

Nobody sure of what he absolutely know

Everybody find confusion

In conclusion he concluded long ago

And it puzzle me to learn

That tho' a man may be

In doubt of what he know

Very quickly he will fight

He'll fight to prove that what

He does not know is so

Oh sometimes I think

That people going mad

Ah sometimes I think

That people not so bad

But not matter what I think

I must go on living life

As leader of my kingdom

I must go forth

Be father to my children

And husband to each wife

Etcetera etcetera and so forth

If my Lord in Heaven Buddha

Show the way

Everyday I try to live another day

If my Lord in Heaven Buddha

Show the way

Everyday I do my best for one more day

But is a puzzlement