
Time Was
let the north be warmed by the wind of my breath
let the east be darkened by my shadow
let the south be cooled by the frost of my steps
let the west be lightened by what I know
​
time was I’d rise every morning
pick myself up off the floor
time was I’d work till the evening
but I don’t gotta work anymore
I only need the silence to hear the hum of my blood
I only need my name to tell you who I was
I was only ever free to die
no chance to change my luck
maybe that’s the reason why my life has come unstuck from me
now I’m the salt in the sea
the smoke on the breeze
the red on the leaves
and if we met
in that awkward moment between birth and death
I suppose I was just the person I would be
but now I’m everyone that I wasn’t before
because I’ll die last in the hearts of those who love me
​
time was I knew where I was goin’
where I was from, what I was for
time was I’d work to keep this engine runnin’
but I don’t gotta work anymore
I worked hard to keep the sun on my face, wind at my back
grass beneath my feet, and my blue skies stacked
I had to lock every storm under my hat
now I can only read my thoughts by the lightning’s flash
Give me eyes to hear, ears to see
the crowd for quiet, and solitude’s company
What did I do?
I did the best I could
I never made a stand
but at least I knew where I stood
​
time was I could see all the angles
wait and laugh, I always knew the score
time was I would work at my failures
but I don’t gotta work anymore
time was my blood would brown
splashed on the rocks of the shore
time was I’d work not to make a sound
but I don’t gotta work anymore