Tinkering

 Haven't been able to avoid tinkering with my previous translation. Posted that one at asia fanatics http://asianfanatics.net/forum/topic/759892-subsong-for-when-heaven-burns/page__pid__7040875__st__0&#entry7040875 so I want to avoid changing again my posted version. A slightly different translation.

(BL)Youth is good, unruliness is good,
Not willing to abide with feudalism,
Believing in the superstition that by taking to the streets the truth can be achieved,
The masses denounce a flag raised high,
Willing to give up all to appeal against,
The status-quo thinking of the elites.

Alas life is a pile of setbacks,
Alas in living we must compromise.

(MC)Youth is good, poverty is good,
Happy with just a dollar in savings,
A cheap guitar eases my temper,
But with wealth achieved youth has flown,
In giving there need not be thought of return,
In this world there must be differences.

Alas life is the sound of the sighs of  frustration,
Alas living is the sound of apologies being made.

(Together)Fear persecution.

What if fates could be chosen?
That at each cross roads you and I could take each step without a care?
What if in living we could be more open?
That yesterdays principles need not accept the ravages of time?

(KW)Youth is good, friends are good,
Arguments have no need for an accused,
No need to memorise the rules of the game,
As we grow old,
There is no way to mend the aging beliefs of youth.

(Together)Time is such a horror.

If fate could be chosen,
Then at each cross roads you and I could take each step without hesitation,
If living was more open,
Then it would be discovered that yesterday's principles still hold true.
If fate could be rehearsed,
In reality there would be no need,
To accept the cruelty of a lifetime of decisions.

If  past beliefs had been held on to?
Would I still live with such regret?

                                             **************

Toying with  transposing three lines of Moses' verse to read

In giving there need not be thought of return,
In this world there must be differences.
But with wealth achieved youth has flown.