LONG ENOUGH TO TELL

The winds of October were shaking the trees
The carnival sky wouldn't sleep
The scattered remains of the losses and gains
Were enough to make anyone weep

The girls in tight jeans
Mostly middle aged teens
Tossed coins in the wishing well
I thought I might jump in
After I shed this skin
if I live long enough to tell

In the land of the free it's a mystery to me
Under tatters of blue white and red
The eagle's sharp claw has shredded the law
And replaced it with scorn now instead

All those dark bold faced lies looked us straight in the eyes
From the shysters with snake oils to sell
We need to repent and learn where it all went
If we live long enough to tell

We leveled that city in the dead of the night
From high in the sky our bombs fell
In the rubble and flames and the thousands of names
We were told that we did our job well

In the morning's bright glare I became well aware
Of how heaven turned into such hell
And I swore there and then it won't happen again
If I live long enough to tell

There's a man on the hill wearing worn out old boots
His children have marched off to war
His water's run dry
There's dust in his eye
And the banker is at his front door
His truck's out of gas
His head's bowed at mass
His wife has a secret to tell
Maybe someday she will when they settle the bill  
If they live long enough to tell

I hear the fiddle and drum
But where's it coming from?
It's beginning to feel like a dream
Put a kiss on my lips
Launch ten thousand ships
Convince me you're not what you seem

In my arms
In your bed
In my heart
In my head
I’m so sick only you make me well
I will stand by your side when there's no place to hide
If I live long enough to tell
I will stand by your side when there's no place to hide
If I live long enough to tell


words and music by Bill Mumy
© So Boss Music  Ascap