What a Piece of Work Is Man / How Dare They Try

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a soaring, classical tribute to human potential, praising man as "noble in reason" and "infinite in faculties." This initial awe quickly shatters as a voice declares, "Lost all my mirth," revealing a profound disillusionment. It sets a stark contrast between idealism and despair. This tension between grand vision and grim reality drives the piece. What begins as a celebration of humanity's "beauty of the world" transforms into a lament for a "sterile promontory." The very sky, initially described as a "most excellent canopy," is later dismissed as a "foul and pestilent congregation of vapors," illustrating a complete loss of wonder. The craft here lies in the powerful juxtaposition. The repetition of "What a piece of work is man" initially feels like a genuine tribute, but its re-appearance after Claude's despair feels tinged with irony or a desperate plea. The shift in perspective from universal praise to individual anguish, then to collective outrage, is particularly effective. It highlights how a shared ideal can crumble under the weight of perceived destruction. Ultimately, the lyrics pivot from despair to defiant action. The repeated question, "How dare they try to end this beauty?" transforms the lament into a rallying cry. This builds into the insistent declaration, "Our eyes are open / Wide wide wide," suggesting a collective awakening to the threats facing the world. It's a powerful call for awareness and resistance, urging listeners to confront what is being lost.