Tortoise and Hair

Now the glitter of this place has worn, everything has turned to gray
Though I know one time I loved it here now I know I cannot stay

So where should I consider home? Was it where first breath was drawn?
Though for you, my love, my heart will long, so where you are I’ll say I’m from.

Oh, my love, come take my hand, to this place we’ll bid farewell
We will find where we belong we cannot buy or sell

Now we’re travelling down this road alone, all belongings left behind
But I will not crave these things of ours, as long as you are by my side

Well, I live out on the faultline where the East and West collide
Yes, I live out on the faultline where the East and West collide
When the quake comes rumbling through, well there ain’t no place to hide

You can feel it in your gut, now, when the earth begins to move
You can feel it in your gut, now, when the earth begins to move
But that feeling doesn’t leave even when the quake is through

Whoa…

When you live out on the faultline you will build your house of stone
When you live out on the faultline you will build your house of stone
And when the rest have fallen down, then you’ll know that you are home

Whoa…
Well, now, I’ve become the wanderings of my soul

Sitting here watching the world fall apart
Why would I leave, I’ve got a front row seat?
And when the sky’s coming down I’ll take it easy
That devil ain’t getting a hold of me

Word on the street is get out while you can
Those clouds are bringing in the wind and the rain
Don’t be fooled ‘cause it’s not sparing anyone
It’s gonna blow from Wall Street down to Main

Sitting here watching the world fall apart
Why would I leave, I’ve got a front row seat?
And when the sky’s coming down I’ll take it easy
That devil ain’t getting a hold of me

It’s a marvelous thing to see the wise become fools
To see the rich become poor before your eyes
While I don’t delight in the pain of anyone
It’s good to know tomorrow’s still so undefined

That’s why I’m sitting here watching the world fall apart
Everybody knows it’s getting plain to see
And when the sky’s coming down I’ll let it wash me clean
Every drop of rain that falls of me

That’s why I’m sitting here watching the world fall apart
Why would I leave, I’ve got a front row seat?
And when the sky’s coming down I’ll take it easy
That devil ain’t getting a hold of me

There was a man I had known fairly long
Who’d find me each time life had handled him rough
He’d come to my door always right before dawn
And I’d let him in ‘cause I thought myself tough

We met on a Wednesday more holy than most
Wearing ash on my head in the shape of a cross
He said that angels and demons are the world’s greatest hoax
I asked, “Did you seek me out ‘cause you thought I looked lost?”

He found a habit for when he had nothing to boast
He’d come to my door with rings of red ‘round his eyes
I knew that I wasn’t what he needed most
But he left feeling lighter than when he’d arrived

You looked for a confessor to calm your mind of stormy seas
I don’t have all the answers, still you put these robes on me

Things settled down and his worries grew dim
It was a sign tides had turned for the good, I could tell
I began to see less and less of him
Until he stopped coming by and it seemed just as well

But then a time came when he was doubting his worth
And he saw everything in his life headed South
He was drawn back to me like a compass points North
And tales of his sins dropped like stones from his mouth

You looked for a confessor, while you say you don’t believe
Tried to make me your intercessor, so you put these robes on me

You looked for a confessor, while my faith a mustard seed
You saw mountains before you, so you put these robes on me

When the walls that you built with your two tiny hands
Fall down tired beneath the mighty winds
That’s when you’ll look at the big picture

When you build and build again ‘til your whole day is spent
And you watch the sun go down, you wonder where it went
You’ll start to think about the big picture

You’ll see it looking back at you. No, it won’t tell you what to do
And it will let you cry your eyes out. It’ll see you live it through.

When you look to your left and you look to your right
And you see your neighbor cry and throw his hands up in his plight
You’ll start to see it, the big picture

You’ll see it staring back at you. No, it won’t tell you what to do
And it will let you curse the day. It will see you live it through.

When this world spins around over and again
And then finally settles down and rolls over on it’s head
That’s when you’ll need it, the big picture

And you’ll be fine…
When the walls that you built
Fall down tired
Build, build again
And watch the sun go down

There once was a blaze that burned so high threatening the skies
Now a pile of coals
Though the ladders all have been retired and the hoses put away
Still those embers glow

And I am just the voice of the wind, no one’s listening
But don’t say I didn’t warn you

When the land of freedom knew she wasn’t free, in a cry of pain
She was born again
Though the Devil knew right then and there that he didn’t have the cards
Still he refused to fold his hand

And I am just the voice of the wind, no one’s listening
But don’t say I didn’t warn you
Breathin’ out but will you breathe it in, are you listening
Will you let these words adorn you

‘Cause when they poured into the streets behind the passion of their pain
And the anger echoed back and forth ‘til every heart was claimed
And pride was taken back but all I saw was shame

And I’m not gonna tell you anymore, these words have reached their shore
Yet I fear it’s all in vain
But he with ears to hear and eyes to see, he will know the truth
And it will bring him to his knees

And I am just the voice of the wind, no one’s listening
But don’t say I didn’t warn you

I wrote myself the sweetest song I believe I ever heard
And I loved it like a preacher in the pulpit loves the Word
I loved it like a daddy loves his chubby little girl
It ain’t for no one else in the world

I painted myself the finest scene I believe I ever saw
And I put it up behind a piece of glass and hung it on my wall
It’s the last thing that you see before the bedroom in the hall
So that each night I could dream of all the beauty that I saw
It ain’t for no one else in the world

And all I want in this world is to be your only song
To be the picture in the portait that is hanging on your wall
To be the hero of your dreams as you are sleeping all night long
To be the only one in the world

And all I need in this life is to share this joy I have
But I’m riding on so before I leave won’t you step into my cab
It’s crowded with my things, you’ll have to sit up on my lap
But I’ll show you over time that I would never treat you bad
I don’t need anyone else in the world

It’s the simple life of the songs and of the paintings I have seen
That’s the only life that I would ever choose for you and me
We can have it if we both believe

And all I need in this life is to share this joy I have
But I’m riding on so before I leave won’t you step into my cab
It’s crowded with my things, you’ll have to sit up on my lap
But I’ll show you over time that I would never treat you bad
I don’t need anyone else in the world

There’s a superhero lesser known
I’m sure you haven’t met her, KR from Marietta.
But much to her efforts do we owe
A better world to live in, the streets are free from villains

What are the powers that she boasts
She very organized, punctual, and never lies
With confidence she’ll face her foes
There’s not one item lost, her list is all checked off

She soars so high above us all
She knows she always should use her powers for good
She’s on the scene before she’s even called
She’ll take some liberties to set the captives free

There are those who would put good KR down
You’ll win some enemies taking life so seriously
And I’ll admit I’ve wandered through that crowd
But I’m not proud of it, no I’m not proud

And it’s well-known that KR gives advice
She knows her vitamins, she knows her garden plants
And I am sure that she once saved my life
When she told me “don’t despise meager beginnings”

Do you think we’ll ever see the world divided evenly
Some are rich and some are poor and some are strong and some are weak
All playing friends and enemies

Some are first born of the earth, giving names, assigning worth
You looked behind enough to get a glimpse of someone new
You said a name and then were through

It was all I could do not to laugh, all I could do not to cry
All I could do just to could my head up high

See I believed in everything, I pour myself out like a spring
In the surface of these waters you only saw a shallow pool
And disregard the simple fool

So I take up ranks among the lame; untimely born and poorly named
Though after every battle of your victory did boast
You strike my shadow and wound my ghost

Sometimes I just had to laugh, sometimes I just had to cry
Somewhere I learned how to hold my head up high

Well you’re older now you’re on your own, any wonder why you’re so alone
Your pride’s a golden crown your anger is a fire
Refine yourself by and by

You don’t see me but I see you, perhaps you’ll never know it’s true
Still some are born to see and some are born to do
You for all and I for you

All I could do not laugh, all I could do not to cry
All I could do just to hold my head up high

Summertime and we were starting to know
If we were to be we’d tell our friends tomorrow
You had jumped into the quarry below
Squinting up at me, would I follow

Some would speculate what our future would hold
Said we were something we’d one day outgrow
But we knew what lasting lovers all know
You find something rare, never let go

Each year goes by with new insights gained
Makes me different from before
But through each phase one thing remains
That I’m forever yours

Glass in hand explaining some of life’s philosophies
You claimed to have once had romantic views of poverty
Everyone laughed but from what I see
We live on music, what more could we need

Each year goes by with new insights gained
Makes me different from before
But through each phase one thing remains
That I’m forever yours