Sink or Swim
There’s a man by the western gate
Trying hard to stir up trouble
Saying all of this has been foretold
But it’s been hidden in the rubble
When I hear, “It’s been foretold”
I always get suspicious
Of those who want their prophecies
Served up easy and delicious
I lay down upon some rocks
As I pondered about the matter
I don’t sleep too well when I’m stoned
And I dreamed about a ladder
I climbed way up but then fell down
And I sank without a ripple
I wrestled with this thought a while
‘Til it turned me into a cripple
Out here past the guard
You know that life is hard
I do what I can but things look grim
He’s got a sword in his hand
No one gets in the Promised Land
Out here the chance is slim
Out here the only choice is sink or swim
I went walking in the country
When I heard some churchyard choir
I tried going back the way I came
Then they got me in a cross fire
They were praising God and Jesus
But the rest got pure damnation
I couldn’t remember which side I’m on
It was an embarrassing situation
These are hard tales to tell
What’s the moral of the story?
If I thought I understood
Then I wouldn’t have to worry
But the scenes keep changing fast
And the curtain starts descending
I never figured out the plot
Or got a chance to see the ending
There’s a map somewhere I’m sure
That will tell me where I’m going
I been looking for it all my life
You see the hard part is the knowing
Knowing that this mystery
Has a logical solution
Knowing, but never finding clues
That’s the source of my confusion
I finally woke up from my dream
Just in time to see an angel
Walking away all dressed in rags
That were sparkly and star-spangled
I called out, hoping she’d turn back
With a rational explanation
She turned around, but her eyes were blank
And she had lost my fascination
Might as well just cash my chips
These are lousy cards I’m holding
You know I always stay with sinking ships
If I were smart, I’d be folding
Out here, where life is hard
All you can do is take your chances
He’s a fool who tries to swim the tide
And believe in cheap romances
© 2011 Chuck Puckett