Willow Springs

The diners dark, with dreams undone 
Narcotic nightingales have sung
their tortured songs for everyone
In the cavalcade

Apocalyptic subway dreams
The alleys and the in-betweens
The horse and buggy symphonies
A fool’s errand some would say

Pimps and pushers, presidents
The paupers preach of tenements
The cowboy’s code, the whore laments
The coming judgement day

Bible thumpers, jesus freaks
The conservatives and hippie geeks
All rehearsing for the rapture
With the fools out on parade

I’ve fallen at the foot of an altar so great
I’ve never understood why heaven would have a gate
I’ve searched all over
Like a piper at the gates of dawn
Maybe it was you all along

There’s a handbasket bound for hell
I got me two tickets from a wishing well
Life is just a carousel
So babe, let’s both get off

The Doctor said “You’re looking pale”
I said, “I just came from the jail”
He said, “Buy a cross, forget the nails,
Now turn your head and cough.”

A longing look, a dying rose
An ancient warrior-like pose
The savior’s wearing sweat shop clothes
But ain’t he looking fine

The news is all so fucking bleak
I think my eyes have sprung a leak
Strength is built upon the weak
The rich are deemed divine

I’ve wandered through the wasteland
For 40 days and nights
Pondered frustration
But could never really see the light
Squandered salvation
But with you I feel so strong 
Maybe it was you all along

The brokenness is plain to see
The emptiness, the misery
Not even the birds are free
They’re chained to the sky

Cannonballs and musketeers
The king’s men drinkin’ dollar beers
Whisper in the hungry ears
Of the dreams that pass us by

I don’t believe in karma much
Maybe I’m too out of touch
I used faith just like a crutch
Of such a helpless man

Been chasing my tail in the yard
I didn’t know things could get so hard
So many nights I fell apart
From all I couldn’t understand

For so long I’ve been running
For so long I’ve been scared
So unbecoming
For so long I’ve been impaired
For so long singing
The words to the same old song
Maybe it was you all along

I’ve been beaten down, but never out
Enveloped myself with my doubt
I turned to the heavens and began to shout
“Man, is this all you got?”

“Fuck this noise”, I told the man
“I’m headed for the promised land
Gonna build me a castle in the sand
I ain’t asking for a lot”

Then suddenly it occurred to me
I think I know what it is I need
And that which I was trying to be
Are two separate things

I’ve been looking high and looking low
For god knows what, god only knows
To be loved and respected
In the safety of your wings

Maybe it was angels
Maybe it was god
Maybe a stranger
Or some kind of lightning rod
Maybe a spirit
Or maybe the saints beyond
Or maybe it was you all along

Capos, capos, the culpable
The glass of life seems pretty full
Your love is so indelible
May it never go away

Saints and sinners, sepulchers
The hustlers, harlots, harbingers
The jester dances moonbeams
If you stay out of his way

Lanterns light the weighted walk
Tongues too taut to even talk
I swear to god it’s not my fault
Ain’t it what they love to say

Caverns crave a crooked mind
Sacrosanct, sardonic time
The search for what you’ll never find
Man, it’s always been this way

Maybe I’m a lion or maybe just a lamb
For so long trying
Still can’t understand
It seems so simple

Like seven silver sailing swans
Maybe it was you all along 

-Michael McDermott, "Willow Springs"