Politics lyrics

"In our time the destiny of man presents its meanings in
political terms" - Thomas Mann

How can I, that girl standing there,
My attention fix
On Roman or on Russian
Or on Spanish politics?
Yet here's a travelled man that knows
What he talks about,
And there's a politician
That has read and thought,
And maybe what they say is true
Of war and war's alarms

But O that I were young again
And held her in my arms!