Thursday, December 18, 2008

advent journal: index of first lines

In the midst of my waiting tonight, I began going through the first lines of songs I love and found this poem.

Index of First Lines

I pulled into Nazareth was feeling ‘bout half past dead
I don’t want to hear a love song
doctor my eyes have seen the years and the slow parade of tears
headlights are flashing down the highway
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home
a look at you all see the love there that’s sleeping
when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand
keep a fire burning in your eye pay attention to the open sky
you you along the road must have a code that you can live by
you come a-walking with a scar on your soul
taking too much too lightly
you with the sad eyes don’t be discouraged
there’s a river of sorrow in my soul
don’t the hours grow shorter as the days go by
there are the ones you call friends
there are the ones you call late at night
another turning point a fork stuck in the road
people get ready there’s a train a-comin’
you can play the game and act out the part
baby I’ve been searching like everybody else
in the middle of late last night I was sitting on a curb
where have all my friends gone? they’ve all disappeared
like a bird on a wire like a drunk in a midnight choir
I will remember you will you remember me

when the road gets dark and you can no longer see
in every heart there is a room a sanctuary safe and strong
didn’t say we wouldn’t hurt anymore
people that are sad they wear a frown
it’s coming on Christmas and they’re cutting down trees
I heard was there was a secret chord
that david played and it pleased the Lord
am I young enough to believe in revolution
when it’s dark outside you’ve got to carry the light
the waltzing fool he’s got lights in his fingers
there ain’t nobody asked to be born
shut it down and call this road a day
we’re living in a time of inconvenience
you come home late and you come home early
we are swimming with the snakes at the bottom of the well
all the unsaid words that I might be thinking
the presence of your absence follows me
something in your eyes makes me want to lose myself
here we go again another round of blues
it was all I could do to keep from crying
oh play me a blues song and fade down the lights
so many years so many hardships
just when every ray of hope was gone
tell anybody that ain’t got nobody somebody’s coming
when you start if you exist God believes in you
I can hear her heartbeat from a thousand miles
Peace,
Milton

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

todd snider even -- impressive!

Anonymous said...

In your heart that is the place I hear the most love!

peace,
JB

Choralgrrl said...

Hey, Milton--what a great idea, and how beautifully done! Love the last 3 lines, in particular.

Peace, Brother.