There’s a wide space between words
where the world can rise and fall
a time when the tongue fails
and the throat clenches
There’s space so immense between suns that
There’s a gap between people so small that
There’s an instant before danger so quick that
There’s a millisecond before love so brief that
And only the eyes stop us like anchors
Slam us to silence
Stun our hearts close to break
Or billow like a seagoing sail
On seas yellow crazed stung by salt
Plowed with foam.
And the wind takes us like toys
Into the future, even on our knees
Away from ourselves
Into eternal see.
Even
the air is enough
Even the heart that beats
The flowers we throw away
The lions that we tame
I want to be an arrow that flies
Through disaster
Seeing without sight,
Hearing without sound
Standing without ground
When we cannot stand,
We must fall down
When we cannot speak,
Our words melt the air.
There’s a wide ...
Space ...
Between words.
Music by Mark Nichols, lyrics by Bob McAllister.
Originally written for "Joe
Bean".
Vocal arrangement with Jennifer Carlson
Drums: Jarrod Kaplan & Chad Channing; Bass: Steve Newton;
Guitar: John Kornstein, Mark Nichols; Lead Vocal: Jennifer
Carlson; Backups: Julie & Mari
This song is an effort to show some real emotion
between Joe Bean and his wife Sara at a point in their relationship
where they've been separated for almost a year. It is sung
by one of the storytellers as Joe and Sara have a long "silent
film" conversation on the phone, complete with knock
down screaming. All the emotion finally comes streaming out.
Her anger especially. His sense of betrayal and loneliness.
Bob's words are pure and vintage Bob, striking
with original metaphor at the heart.
