This song is in honor of Bastille day. Inspired by (and sometimes directly quoting) A Tale of Two Cities, I wrote this song a few years ago about the character Sydney Carton, one of the best redemption stories I’ve ever read.
I drift day to day,
like a piece of trash in the ocean
and it’s been the same way all my life,
night to day, day to night,
night to day, day to night.
Until you touched my life,
and you left an indelible mark,
but you were too late.
And the tears streaming down your face are like healing balms,
I’ve never had a soul to care for me,
but the fact you just don’t understand is I’m too far gone.
So you can have my heart,
each beat is for you,
you don’t feel the same way,
and I wouldn’t want you to.
You can have my life,
if you need a spare,
because I owe you everything,
because you almost made me care.
And you’re stirring old shadows,
somewhere deep inside of me.
I thought that they died so long ago,
but they’re shaken awake
by this love you radiate.
Oh and you lit the spark,
though heap of ashes I may be,
and the fire’s burning.
And I’m dreaming new dreams of starting life afresh…
but the waking leaves the dreamer empty,
and I idly burn away to a heap of ash.
So you can have my heart,
each beat is for you,
you don’t feel the same way,
and I wouldn’t want you to.
You can have my life,
if you need a spare,
because I owe you everything,
because you almost made me care.
…and the footsteps are echoing closer and closer…
…oh my love! Be not destroyed…
But I care now!
Eyes set and furrowed brow,
I know the reason I’m alive:
the life you love must not yet die.
And like the thief my life has been a waste.
And like the thief I die alone disgraced.
And like the thief I bear this cross tonight.
But like the thief I see a new sunrise!
I am the Resurrection,
I am the Resurrection,
I am the Resurrection,
and the Life!
