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A memo to a higher office
Open letter to the powers-that-be
To a God, a king, a head of state
A captain of industry
To the movers and the shakers --
Can't everybody see?
It ought to be second nature --
I mean, the places where we live!
Let's talk about this sensibly --
We're not insensitive
I know progress has no patience --
But something's got to give
I know you're different --
You know I'm the same
We're both too busy
To be taking the blame
I'd like some changes
But you don't have the time
We can't go on thinking
It's a victimless crime
No one is blameless
But we're all without shame
We fight the fire -- while we're feeding the flames
Folks have got to make choices --
And choices got to have voices
Folks are basically decent
Conventional wisdom would say
Well, we read about the exceptions
In the papers every day
It ought to be second nature --
At least, that's what I feel
"Now I lay me down in Dreamland" --
I know perfect's not for real
I thought we might get closer --
But I'm ready to make a deal
Today is different, and tomorrow the same
It's hard to take the world the way that it came
Too many rapids keep us sweeping along
Too many captains keep on steering us wrong
It's hard to take the heat --
It's hard to lay blame
To fight the fire -- while we're feeding the flames
Open letter to the powers-that-be
To a God, a king, a head of state
A captain of industry
To the movers and the shakers --
Can't everybody see?
It ought to be second nature --
I mean, the places where we live!
Let's talk about this sensibly --
We're not insensitive
I know progress has no patience --
But something's got to give
I know you're different --
You know I'm the same
We're both too busy
To be taking the blame
I'd like some changes
But you don't have the time
We can't go on thinking
It's a victimless crime
No one is blameless
But we're all without shame
We fight the fire -- while we're feeding the flames
Folks have got to make choices --
And choices got to have voices
Folks are basically decent
Conventional wisdom would say
Well, we read about the exceptions
In the papers every day
It ought to be second nature --
At least, that's what I feel
"Now I lay me down in Dreamland" --
I know perfect's not for real
I thought we might get closer --
But I'm ready to make a deal
Today is different, and tomorrow the same
It's hard to take the world the way that it came
Too many rapids keep us sweeping along
Too many captains keep on steering us wrong
It's hard to take the heat --
It's hard to lay blame
To fight the fire -- while we're feeding the flames
Lyrics submitted by shed27
Track duration: 04:36
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Also, i know your different, you know im the same, were both too busy to be taking the blame, id like some changes, but you don't have the time, we can't go on thinking it's a victimless crime, no one is blameless, but were all without shame, we fight the fire, while we're feeding the flames!
OMG! WHAT A MSG!
The theme of this song is similar to Closer to the Heart. It's an expression of a desire for us to work together to make the world better.
Don't mean to be the voice of gloom and doom here...but it ain't gonna happen. I can think of ONE time in my lifetime that people got together to make a better world...and it lasted for all of 3 days. (Woodstock)
AFTER that...the Manson family happened, the Kent State shootings happened, the leaders of the movement went to jail. Icons of the movement ODed. Altamont happened. The movement was detroyed from within AND from forces without.
The problem with humans cooperating to make a better world...human nature fucks it up. It's nice to have a desire and aspirations and write beautiful songs (like Closer to the Heart and Second Nature) to express those aspirations...just don't get too disappointed when it never happenes.
I still love this song, though. Geddy never sounded better as a singer, and the music fits in with those great vocals perfectly.
Like Razor said: it's a powerful song. Near heartbreaking too.