[Verse]
Six men of Industan to learning much inclined
Who went to see the elephant, though all of them were blind
That each by observation might satisfy his mind
Satisfy his mind, satisfy his mind
Six men of Industan to learning much inclined

[Verse]
Well, the first approached the elephant and happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, at once began to bawl
"God bless me! But this elephant is very like a wall!"
The second, feeling of the tusk, cried, "Ho! what have we here?
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me, it's mighty clear
This wonder of an elephant is very like a spear!"

[Chorus]
All of them were blind
All of them were blind
Six men of Industan to learning much inclined

[Verse]
The third approached the animal and happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, thus boldly up he spake
"I see," quoth he, "the elephant is very like a snake!"
The fourth reached out an eager hand and felt about the knee
"What most this wondrous beast is like 'tis mighty plain," quoth he
“'Tis clear enough the elephant is very like a tree!"
[Verse]
And the fifth who chanced to touch the ear, said, ”Even the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most, deny the fact who can
This marvel of an elephant is very like a fan!"
The sixth no sooner had begun about the beast to grope
Then seizing on the swinging tail that fell within his scope
"I see," quoth he, "the elephant is very like a rope!"

[Chorus]
All of them were blind
All of them were blind
Six men of Industan to learning much inclined

[Verse]
And so these men of Industan disputed loud and long
Each in his opinion exceeding stiff and strong
Each was partly in the right, but all were in the wrong
So oft in theologic wars, the disputants, I ween
Rail on in utter ignorance of what each other mean
And prat about an elephant not one of them has seen