Written on the Edge

The Band Plays On

Banging, Beating, Slamming

   Clashing, Smashing, Crashing

Chords hit loud with might force.

   and the band plays on.

Crowding, Screaming, Stamping

   Chanting, Fighting, Clawing

Fainting from the heat

   and still the band plays on.

Riots, Quiet, Deadly

   No, loud monsters and maiming

The mob cannot be quelled

   and still the band plays on.

7 September 2015 ·

Drunkards Walk (Flip the Coin)

“Even a coin weighted toward failure will sometimes land on success.” Keep flipping the coin.
–
(chorus)
each day is just another step
the direction matters not
just keep in mind the prize you want
and flip the coin a lot
–

My name is Daniel Gage
I got a story to tell
listen up close
I been through heaven and hell

Spent most of my life
packin and unpackin
searchin through the world
to find out what I’m lackin

–

As a little boy
I moved from town to town
no stability
no hanging around

making new friends
always such a hassle
when looking at the world
through introverted glasses

–

my twenties burnt out
looking for the answers
trapped inside the glass
of liquid mood enhancers

—
bridge


now chance is such a fickle beast
and all will be for naught
so just get up and move your feet
stop laying in one spot

Got to keep on moving
the direction matters not
take every chance that’s given
and flip the coin a lot
—


but always in my mind
the thought would keep on creepin’
of a day I’d find
a life that’s worth a keepin’

the hour she arrived
flipped my world around
(now) every single night
is spent on  holy ground


—-

31 January 2013 ·

The more it all stays the same

And the colored graffiti that calls out for change
in spatters of mud hide a sentence of rage
as the little man cries
and the rich keep the throne

while the common man screams
just leave me alone

–
The wheels that keep on a turnin
give allegiance to the rut in the road
and reform that’s been promised for ages
just a sham to call out the vote
–

With the stains of the blood of innocence tossed
on the altar of fame the condemned get laid
and media wars
recount all the deeds
 
and names of the villains
get put up in lights

–
(chorus)
–

A babe gets cradled to the breast of her ma
and the last breath of both get lost in the wake
of earth shaking carnage
and rockets a blaze

in a night bombing raid
an insurgents delight

–
and the wheels keep on turning
giving allegiance to the rut in the road
and reform that’s been promised for ages
disappears as the dust settles low
–

the more the times start changing
the more it all stays the same

the more it all stays the same

30 January 2013 ·

Lessons Learned

Doug passed away on a Sunday afternoon
at 2 pm I received the news

I think it it was fitting
the sky was filled with grey
a springtime breeze chilled air

we hadn’t been close
in a very long long time
but I was true through the worst


Life is hard enough without hiding who you are
from those you care the most about
and the shame and pain get taken out on them
and the scars get hidden by the tears


he was broken bent and nearly lame
each day hoping to be the last

his voice cracked softly
when we said our last goodbyes
he knew it was time for him to go

his last years were filled
with pain and lost regrets
but I was true through the worst


Life is hard enough without hiding who you are
from those you care the most about
and the shame and pain that was taken out on them
can’t be covered by the tears

That Sunday afternoon, when the call came through
I was a child again, lost and alone

the nightmares creeping
in the dark by myself
crying out from the fear

and the door opened
and daddy’s arms held me close
he was true through the worst

Life is hard enough without hiding who you are
from those you care the most about
But I am the man I am, from the lessons that he taught
not all by words and deeds, but what he hid

Be true to yourself, no matter how hard
be kind when someone’s scared
they need it more than you

feed the dog first, before you sit down to eat
and lend a hand to those who need

take the time to listen before shouting what you know
the loudest voice isn’t always right

Life is hard enough without hiding who you are
from those you care the most about
and I am the man that he was proud to see
not afraid to be me

29 November 2012 ·

Criticism is for the strong
and I’ve never been for very long
but it rings wrong when I hear it’s good
when I know it’s not I feel misunderstood

If you must praise, okay
filter it with shades of grey
pretend i’m really not so staid
use only constructive accolades

20 June 2012 ·