I sat on a bench a-waiting
a-waiting for the rain
And the wind was softly blowing
a-blowing out my pain

Well, well, well
It’s not gonna be well
The earth on which we dwell
Is the living hell
I can tell
O’ well, o’ well, o’ well, o’ well

But, I arose to go a-walking
Walking to God knows where
And the rain was gently falling
a-falling like an angel’s tear

The leaves in the trees were singing
a-Singing a song so blue
And the whales in the sea were wailing
a-wailing after you

Well, well, well
It’s not gonna be well
The earth on which we dwell
Is the living hell
I can tell
O’ well, o’ well, o’ well, o’ well

It was the deep sea blues they were singing
a-Singing from the ocean’s chasm
And the vault of the heaven were shaking
a-shaking from the earth’s great spasm

Yes, like a crying voice all is trembling
a-trembling just like me when I yearn
And I’m walking on a-longing
A-Longing for you to return

But even if the world’s a-crying
It’s a-crying without care
So towards my home I’m turning
Turning home – though you won’t be there

Well, well, well
It’s not gonna be well
The earth on which we dwell
Is the living hell
I can tell
O’ well, o’ well, o’ well, o’ well

Well, in the ocean is the well
Well, that well of the deep sea blues
At the bottom of that well, I can tell
All joys and sorrows fuse

Well in the well is the place where I dwell
And thus I sing the deep sea blues
And that is also why I can tell
That all joys and sorrows will fuse

Well, well, well
It is always that well
At the bottom of the well
Nothing’s ever well
I can tell … (yeah, I can tell you what!)
It’s just that well, that well, that well
(and that is good enough for me, if it is good enough for you)