Universe
03-26-05, 11:35 AM
Based on a short film by James Cliffe.
Atop a roof in street clothes, stands a man that seems to know
Much more than he shows, looking down over the scene below
Between thunder and lightning, and under the cover of night
He shutters that fighting still makes him wonder what’s right
His sight hindered by glasses, an elderly figure tired and beat
As the masses of people scream, the old man rises to his feet
Climbing on the ledge, untying his tie, his eyes shift around
He removes his glasses, jumps, yet he never hits the ground
……
My story is not easy to tell, so whatever you hope to find
Don’t deny what it really is, you must keep an open mind
Showing a sign that all along my intentions, while good
Can’t stop the fact that I probably died with your childhood
When it all started, simple gratitude you surely offered me
I was worth a comment to few, maybe two from curiosity
Yet it was costly, I haven’t looked at the facts in so long
But I guess, as the saying goes… the past is prologue
So to go on, I’ve since buried what I was sent here to do
There are those similar to me, it’s true, I’ve mentored a few
But most passed on and flew, no more need for the nest
That’s called home, now I stay hidden from the evil of men
So many people are dead, terrorist threats known and feared
Some may be deceitful, regardless, I haven’t flown in years
Here in my golden years, I reminisce and thoughts become
1938… when my father gave up his only begotten son
Sending me down a unique path, full of necessary violence
I never once demanded accolades, call it hereditary silence
I learned to value all human life, here in this foreign land
Never did I understand the absolute power within my hands
Until I was a man, and I use that proud term loosely
With power comes responsibility, but why did thou choose me?
To this day it confuses me, all that’s left is to quote a friend
Who once said, “Not to worry… yesterday will come again”.
……
In every city, especially this one… there are people in need
Those who cannot defend themselves from the evil and greed
News leaks threats on T.V., causing those who understand it
To comprehend the tragic events, invoking city wide panic
Where I walk and stand, it’s since torn away at my honesty
Because I lied constantly; I sense people are watching me
Wanting me to remove the disguise, I wasn’t worried, in fact
I was bound to be found sometime after covering my tracks
Now I am ordinary, paying taxes, and letting love blind me
They didn’t stop, they were determined, on a hunt to find me
Trying to remind me of the past I lost, and what is more
They actually believed I could do the things I’ve done before
An old man of course, not in my prime but far from dead
I have a few surprises left; a long time is hard to forget
What I’m capable of, all for a love which freedom misled
I sacrificed the life, because my love needed me instead
The lies had woven a web; I had been caught in it deeply
Did what I thought was right, and fought with it discreetly
Then she said she loved me, so I made my final appearance
July 9, 1963… when I made up my mind to disappear
I had fought for 25 years… always expecting to help
But over time all I did was continually question myself
When I left, terrorists emerged, making sure it all ends
Vile men, what’s worse, one of them I once called friend
And even then, remaining hidden, I felt them tailing after
Each and every step, I’m still chronicled in many chapters
It didn’t matter, determined, I had a purpose to be free
Of the obligation to them and me, giving my love the key
Supposedly locking my past forever more, yet I ignored
The absurd possibility that death would knock at my door
Then it happened, yet it was not I who was chosen to leave
But the love of my life, Lois, my heart left broken in pieces
The city was under siege, chemical warfare reigned supreme
I vowed to let it be, but the people had discovered the identity
Of my destiny, fifty years ago, I might’ve been concerned
It was all I had then, but now, I had barely been perturbed
Various news casts reported, the anchor’s talked with purpose
Of evil that has since arrived, citizens have flocked to churches
To take solace in God, in this troubled time filled with fear
The terror is here, the very same that once killed this spirit
Cries of help, I can hear them well, almost like my past days
I since buried my love, but something strange didn’t pass away
Opening a note she left, filled with words she could never say
In her life, with her own lips, and all apprehension went away
It read, “My dearest Clark, you are more than a friend to me
But my love, now’s the time to be who you were meant to be”
Shedding a tear or three, I hadn’t surprised myself in awhile
But I did that night, it was odd… I couldn’t help but smile.
……
Atop a roof in street clothes, stands a man that seems to know
Much more than he shows, looking down over the scene below
Between thunder and lightning, and under the cover of night
He shutters that fighting still makes him wonder what’s right
His sight hindered by glasses, his elderly figure tired and beat
As the masses of people scream, the old man rises to his feet
Climbing on the ledge, untying his tie, his eyes shift around
He removes his glasses, jumps, yet he never hits the ground
……
Yesterday, I was an old man who once gave up his past
But today’s headlines read, “Flying Man Saves Bomb Attack!”
“City Rescued By A Lost Legend!”, and “Where Did He Go?”
“Caped Hero Returns!” where once was fear now lives hope
I’m uncertain of tomorrow, yet I feel I’ve made amends
I did what had to be done, and I’d do it all the same again
I got a note from that old friend, signed Wayne Enterprise
It read, “We can’t change our past, but we can change our mind”
As my last days unwind, locking my purpose back in a box
I’ve never asked for anything, and that’s surely asking a lot
As I’m masking my faults, I ignored the facts for so long
Thus once again, I guess it proves… the past is prologue
Losing track was my own loss, human life’s so strong
And the only thing death proves is that life goes on
To mourn me with a sad song, it’ll be forever daunted
You forgot me once, & that’s ok, it’s all I ever wanted.
Tomorrow's Memoir (http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=2238432&q=Hi)
Atop a roof in street clothes, stands a man that seems to know
Much more than he shows, looking down over the scene below
Between thunder and lightning, and under the cover of night
He shutters that fighting still makes him wonder what’s right
His sight hindered by glasses, an elderly figure tired and beat
As the masses of people scream, the old man rises to his feet
Climbing on the ledge, untying his tie, his eyes shift around
He removes his glasses, jumps, yet he never hits the ground
……
My story is not easy to tell, so whatever you hope to find
Don’t deny what it really is, you must keep an open mind
Showing a sign that all along my intentions, while good
Can’t stop the fact that I probably died with your childhood
When it all started, simple gratitude you surely offered me
I was worth a comment to few, maybe two from curiosity
Yet it was costly, I haven’t looked at the facts in so long
But I guess, as the saying goes… the past is prologue
So to go on, I’ve since buried what I was sent here to do
There are those similar to me, it’s true, I’ve mentored a few
But most passed on and flew, no more need for the nest
That’s called home, now I stay hidden from the evil of men
So many people are dead, terrorist threats known and feared
Some may be deceitful, regardless, I haven’t flown in years
Here in my golden years, I reminisce and thoughts become
1938… when my father gave up his only begotten son
Sending me down a unique path, full of necessary violence
I never once demanded accolades, call it hereditary silence
I learned to value all human life, here in this foreign land
Never did I understand the absolute power within my hands
Until I was a man, and I use that proud term loosely
With power comes responsibility, but why did thou choose me?
To this day it confuses me, all that’s left is to quote a friend
Who once said, “Not to worry… yesterday will come again”.
……
In every city, especially this one… there are people in need
Those who cannot defend themselves from the evil and greed
News leaks threats on T.V., causing those who understand it
To comprehend the tragic events, invoking city wide panic
Where I walk and stand, it’s since torn away at my honesty
Because I lied constantly; I sense people are watching me
Wanting me to remove the disguise, I wasn’t worried, in fact
I was bound to be found sometime after covering my tracks
Now I am ordinary, paying taxes, and letting love blind me
They didn’t stop, they were determined, on a hunt to find me
Trying to remind me of the past I lost, and what is more
They actually believed I could do the things I’ve done before
An old man of course, not in my prime but far from dead
I have a few surprises left; a long time is hard to forget
What I’m capable of, all for a love which freedom misled
I sacrificed the life, because my love needed me instead
The lies had woven a web; I had been caught in it deeply
Did what I thought was right, and fought with it discreetly
Then she said she loved me, so I made my final appearance
July 9, 1963… when I made up my mind to disappear
I had fought for 25 years… always expecting to help
But over time all I did was continually question myself
When I left, terrorists emerged, making sure it all ends
Vile men, what’s worse, one of them I once called friend
And even then, remaining hidden, I felt them tailing after
Each and every step, I’m still chronicled in many chapters
It didn’t matter, determined, I had a purpose to be free
Of the obligation to them and me, giving my love the key
Supposedly locking my past forever more, yet I ignored
The absurd possibility that death would knock at my door
Then it happened, yet it was not I who was chosen to leave
But the love of my life, Lois, my heart left broken in pieces
The city was under siege, chemical warfare reigned supreme
I vowed to let it be, but the people had discovered the identity
Of my destiny, fifty years ago, I might’ve been concerned
It was all I had then, but now, I had barely been perturbed
Various news casts reported, the anchor’s talked with purpose
Of evil that has since arrived, citizens have flocked to churches
To take solace in God, in this troubled time filled with fear
The terror is here, the very same that once killed this spirit
Cries of help, I can hear them well, almost like my past days
I since buried my love, but something strange didn’t pass away
Opening a note she left, filled with words she could never say
In her life, with her own lips, and all apprehension went away
It read, “My dearest Clark, you are more than a friend to me
But my love, now’s the time to be who you were meant to be”
Shedding a tear or three, I hadn’t surprised myself in awhile
But I did that night, it was odd… I couldn’t help but smile.
……
Atop a roof in street clothes, stands a man that seems to know
Much more than he shows, looking down over the scene below
Between thunder and lightning, and under the cover of night
He shutters that fighting still makes him wonder what’s right
His sight hindered by glasses, his elderly figure tired and beat
As the masses of people scream, the old man rises to his feet
Climbing on the ledge, untying his tie, his eyes shift around
He removes his glasses, jumps, yet he never hits the ground
……
Yesterday, I was an old man who once gave up his past
But today’s headlines read, “Flying Man Saves Bomb Attack!”
“City Rescued By A Lost Legend!”, and “Where Did He Go?”
“Caped Hero Returns!” where once was fear now lives hope
I’m uncertain of tomorrow, yet I feel I’ve made amends
I did what had to be done, and I’d do it all the same again
I got a note from that old friend, signed Wayne Enterprise
It read, “We can’t change our past, but we can change our mind”
As my last days unwind, locking my purpose back in a box
I’ve never asked for anything, and that’s surely asking a lot
As I’m masking my faults, I ignored the facts for so long
Thus once again, I guess it proves… the past is prologue
Losing track was my own loss, human life’s so strong
And the only thing death proves is that life goes on
To mourn me with a sad song, it’ll be forever daunted
You forgot me once, & that’s ok, it’s all I ever wanted.
Tomorrow's Memoir (http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=2238432&q=Hi)