Wilderness

get em up get em up get your shoulders up

get your backbone straight

keep an empty cup

put your axe in the wood

get your focus fixed

keep your body in the ring

gotta take some licks

and let it all come back to you

all the memories

which she put you through

bring it up to the light

put it in a frame

hang it out in the open where the children play

let it sting your eyes

clamp your chest

lead with love

and embrace the rest

embrace the demons

with all their claws

embrace this life

with all its scars

how can I forgive of you

things you said you’d never do

words you said you’d never say

darling how’d we lose our way

in the wilderness

just trying our best

to stay free

at an empty space on the edge of town

you had us meet on neutral ground

your coat was grey

your eyes were blue

my arms and hands ached for you

my stolen train

my flock of birds

when your lips said those words

trees went black

angels fell

armies burned the carousel

say you didn’t mean a thing

say you’re coming home again

up the river of regret

say we ain’t seen nothin’ yet

how can I forgive of you

things you said you’d never do

words you said you’d never say

darling how’d we lose our way

in the wilderness

where loneliness cuts so deep

and all the expectations we

put upon ourselves to be

things our parents never would

how could we have been so sure

in the wilderness

just tryin’ our best

to stay free