Lyrics

the big picture

the picture’s far too big to look at, kid
your eyes won’t open wide enough
and you’re constantly surrounded by the swirling stream of what is and what was
well, we all make our predictions but the truth still isn’t out
but if you want to see the future go stare into a cloud

and keep trying to find your way out of that maze of memories
it all sorta looks familiar until you get up close
and then it’s different clearly
but each time you turn a corner you’re right back where you were
and your only hope is that forgetting might make a door appear

is it your fear of being buried that makes you so afraid to speak?
an avalanche of opinions like the one that fell that i’m now underneath
it was my voice that moved the first rock
and i would do it all again
so i mean it’s cool if you keep quiet but i like singing

so i’ll be holding my note
and stomping and strumming and feeling so very lucky
and there is nothing i know 
except this lifetime’s one moment and wishing will just leave me empty

so you can try and live in darkness
but you will never shake the light
no, it will greet you every morning 
and it will make you more aware with its absence at night
when you’re wrapped up in your blankets, baby
that comfortable cocoon
but i’ve seen the day of your awakening boy, and it’s coming soon

so go ahead and lose yourself in liquor and you can praise the clouded mind
but it isn’t what you’re thinking, no
it’s the course of history your position in line
you’re just a piece of the puzzle so i think you’d better find your place
and don’t go blaming your knowledge on some fruit you ate

because there’s been a great deal of discussion, yes
about the properties of man
animal or angel? you were carved from bone, but your heart it’s just sand
and the wind is gonna scatter it and cover everything with love
so if it makes you happy then keep kneeling mama but i’m standing up

because this veil it has been lifted, yes
my eyes are wet with clarity
i’ve been a witness to such wonders
i have searched for them all across this country
but i think i’ll be returning now to the town where i was born
and i understand you must keep moving friend, but i’m headed home

yeah, i’m gonna follow the road
and let the scenery sweeping by easily enter my body
and i’ll send you all this message in code
underground, over mountains, through forests and deserts and cities

all across electric wire, it’s a baited line, yeah
the hook’s in deep boys, there’s no more time
so you can struggle in the water, be too stubborn to die
or you can just let go and be lifted to the sky