Gosh, well done Jim! And thank you from me too.

I've been pondering the words of this song and the sentiments expressed, and can't seem to sort out in my head what Rosselson is saying.
He finds Communism/totalitarianism unacceptable, and realises that the people secretly desire capitalism, consumerism and all the materialism it brings.

But he obviously despises that too as cheap and tacky, and reflects on a world where elephants roamed free...and this is where I can't sort out where this leads. That humans in general have wrecked planet Earth? Or are the elephants a metaphor? That materialism is a false god?

It's such a beautiful song and I've got quite obsessed with it, so I'd like to understand it better.