Woke up to the first song in my dreams — a man was singing it to me and gave me some hiking boots to put on… I actually remember this song best from watching Tommy Smothers sing it on the Smothers Brothers show long ago.
World I used to know
Some day some old familiar rain will come along and know my name.
And then my shelter will be gone and I’ll have to move along.
But ’till I do I’ll stay awhile and track the hidden country of your smile.
Some day the man I used to be will come along and call on me.
And then because I’m just a man, you’ll find my feet are made of sand.
But ’till that time I’ll tell you lies and chart the hidden bound’ries of your eyes.
Some day the world I use to know will come along and bid me go.
Then I’ll be leaving you behind for love is just a state of mind.
But ’till that day I’ll be your man and love away your troubles if I can.
Afterglow
Like the dust that settles all around me,
I must find a new home.
The ways and holes that used to give me shelter,
Are all as one to me now.
But I, I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call,
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
In a world I used to know before.
I miss you more
Than the sun reflecting off my pillow,
Bringing the warmth of new life.
And the sounds that echoed all around me,
I caught a glimpse of in the night.
But now, now I’ve lost everything,
I give to you my soul.
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none, no thing, no one.
And I would search everywhere
Just to hear your call,
And walk upon stranger roads than this one
In a world I used to know before.
For now I’ve lost everything,
I give to you my soul.
The meaning of all that I believed before
Escapes me in this world of none,
I miss you more
Genesis’ cover
Music and lyrics by Tony Banks
Right Where it Belongs
See the animal in his cage that you built,
Are you sure what side you’re on?
Better not look him too closely in the eye,
Are you sure what side of the glass you are on?
See the safety of the life you have built,
Everything where it belongs
Feel the hollowness inside of your heart,
And it’s all…right where it belongs
What if everything around you,
Isn’t quite as it seems?
What if all the world you think you know,
Is an elaborate dream?
And if you look at your reflection,
Is it all you want it to be?
What if you could look right through the cracks,
Would you find yourself…find yourself afraid to see?
What if all the world’s inside of your head?
Just creations of your own
Your devils and your gods all the living and the dead
And you really oughta know
You can live in this illusion
You can choose to believe
You keep looking but you can’t find the words,
Are you hiding in the trees?
What if everything around you,
Isn’t quite as it seems?
What if all the world you used to know,
Is an elaborate dream?
And if you look at your reflection,
Is it all you want it to be?
What if you could look right through the cracks,
Would you find yourself…find yourself afraid to see?
— Nine Inch Nails
3 Responses
The words to the last poem really hit home for me. I have happily lived alone for twenty five years and worked on my environment to the exclusion of the outside world. Then I broke my hip and realized that my home (cage) was not important any more. I am working on that and hope to reach out more when I am able.
Feeling for you, Darlene — my aunt broke her pelvis a couple weeks ago and is now learning how to get around again with a walker. She’s fiercly independent and just last year moved into a retirement community with assisted living. This must be really hard for you, and her, to adjust to.
Fabulous. I think a lot of us these days are feeling what is in those poems.