Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Somewhere It's Almost Certain

I watched too much TV growing up…probably still watch too much TV, and all the time telling my kids that they watch too much TV for their own good.  “Do as I say and not as I do, right?”
I think my kids have a dimwit for a father…but fortunately they already know that.
But I remember a lot of TV shows, at least snippets.  Gobbets.  One line that has always stuck with me, particularly because of its obvious ramifications as regards the Book of Romans, is a quote from Archie Bunker.
“Faith is believing something that no one in his right mind would believe.”
This new song (first draft?) is about whatever you think it may be about.  I think it is about the foolishness inherent in hope, and faith, and love, and honesty, and the future, at a time that seems pretty dire.  I am ambivalent on this point.  Have been since I have seen "The Iceman Cometh".  The song by its lyric and melody (not apparent here) it juxtaposed to two other “hopeful” songs, “Over the Rainbow” by Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen, and “Thunder Goose” by Vernon Tonges…certainly two of my favorite songs written by three of my favorite songwriters. There may even be a bit of "Try to Remember" from The Fantastics in here.  Certainly wouldn't mind Jerry Orbach singing this song, if he wasn't dead.

Somewhere

It’s almost certain
Somewhere
Somewhere
It's almost certain life has finally wrestled free from fear.
Somewhere
It's almost certain there is a God who could loves us,
     but man He ain't here.
But it’s almost certain
Somewhere

Somewhere
It’s almost certain hope can’t hurt you. 
     Hope only makes you strong.
Somewhere
It’s almost certain no one claims something’s right
     when it’s certainly wrong.
It's almost certain


We running somewhere in a coward’s parade.
From a world that is poisoned,  broken and sick.
Go on.  Try to breathe freely.  You’ll drown in shit.
What dreams you've left obscure your view.
The stones on your chest ain't new.
It's almost certain

They were hewn somewhere.

 
Somewhere
Maybe men know just how hard it is 
     to walk in another man’s shoes.
Somewhere
All the so-called lovers of Jesus know lies are called lies,
     not "the news"
It’s almost certain


Is it true in this somewhere no one has ever died?
Is this somewhere where nature’s defied?
You live unwounded and clean with a heart filled with air
And nothing to learn or to lose

‘Cause you’re sure? Or a fool?
It’s almost certain
Somewhere
- October 2010

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