Time Table lyrics - Genesis song

A carved oak table,
Tells a tale
Of times when Kings and queens sipped wine from goblets gold,
And the brave would lead their ladies from out the room
to arbours cool.
A time of valour, and legends born
A time when honour meant much more to a man than life
And the days knew only strife to tell right from wrong
Through lance and sword.

Why, why can we never be sure till we die
Or have killed for an answer,
Why, why, do we suffer eachrace to believe
That no race has been grander
It seems because through time and space
Though names may change each face retains the mark it wore.

A dusty table
Musty smells
Tarnished silver lies discarded upon the floor
Only feeble light descends through a film of grey.
That scars the panes.
Gone the carving,
And those who left their mark,
Gone the Kings and queens now only the rats hold sway
And the week must die according to nature's law
As old as they.