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The Bridge

from Crucifixion by John Egenes

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about

This is a fable set to music. In most regards it's a song dedicated to Sept. 11th, 2001. It seems that, after such an event, we begin to point fingers, lay blame, and ask ourselves how we can prevent a recurrence. We never seem to ask how we can build a world in which this would never have occurred.

lyrics

There’s a bridge across a river
on a road that travels far beyond the sea
where a lonely wooden soldier guards the gates of liberty
and chooses who will pass and who will stay.
a stranger walking on the road comes to test the keeper of the key
he carries pen and paper and writes within his manuscript
the questions he would ask along the way.

Good morning, says the stranger,
I’ve come from long ago and far away
and there’s something I must ask of you, a simple inquiry,
a puzzle whose solution isn’t known
continue, says the soldier, I’ll listen to the things you have to say,
but I’m just the keeper of the key, defender of the gate,
I’m just a man whose life is not his own

The stranger tells the soldier
pay attention to the question that I pose
he opens up the manuscript to the final page
and bids the soldier, Read the words you see
written on the last page of the book, in singlehanded prose
if you could ask one question, a riddle to be solved
pray tell, what would the question be

The soldier offers up his key and says, I won’t need this anymore
then he takes the strangers manuscript and turns to cross the bridge
down the road that travels far beyond the sea
and now his answers do not matter
and his judgements will not settle up the score.
for, to him, it is the question, and never its reply
that ever holds the key to liberty

And the autumn wind will dry the summer rains
and the soldier loses everything he gains
and the answer to the question that remains
is just another question, it’s just another question

credits

from Crucifixion, released April 1, 2007
Gunther Flutney: cardboard box & brushes, bass
Anna Bowen: fiddle
John Egenes: rhythm & lead acoustic guitar, mandolin, dobro

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

John Egenes Dunedin, New Zealand

Download anything you see here for free (you can pay if you want, but you don't have to...) Author, multi- instrumentalist and session musician for countless artists, producer, songwriter, all around likeable guy.

And you might want to read his book, Man & Horse: The Long Ride Across America
... more

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