Standing Still

I watched the Kennedy Center Honors tonight on television. It was like a walk through my past as three of the honorees; Robert DeNiro, Mel Brooks and Bruce Springsteen all reminded me of when I was growing up during the nineteen seventies and early eighties. Who could ever forget movies like "The Deer Hunter" "Blazing Saddles" or songs like "Born In The USA"

I think Springsteen's tribute got to me the most as John Stewart of "The Daily Show" gave a surprising personal narrative about the essence of Bruce Springsteen's music. Later came tributes by John Cougar Mellencamp, Melissa Etheridge and Sting. The following is my own story done in a style I tried to capture like Springsteen would. It is a little down but don't take it too seriously. If life on earth is a roller coaster then heaven must be a rock concert! Here goes...

Standing Still

I was an old eighteen
Coming straight out of high school
Friends were on their way
They made plans like I was supposed to
But I found myself standing still
Nowhere in particular to go
Clueless as could be
Living in that small farm town
Facing those same foundry gates
That stole my daddy away
Twelve hours a day and then some
Lost child in a crowd of friendly’s
That’s what I became.

Standing still
Nothing but the sound of life
Passing me by
Silent rhythm of a follower
Disciple of the popular crowd.

Signed the dotted line
Uncle Sam wanted me
So I went into that Missouri country side
Hoping I’d made the right decision
Amnesty at midnight or a nightmare
I did not know then but I know now
How the world preys on the ignorant child
Loose as a canon pointed at my head
Late night drunk or high again
Cold cobblestone still haunts my bed
That boy has faded like the weeds of Hindenburg.

Standing still
Nothing but the sound of life
Passing me by
Silent rhythm of a follower
Disciple of the popular crowd.

Today I’m trapped inside this body
Kids are growing and life is flowing
So far from my home town now
An hour seems an eternity
Still the one in the middle
Man on the outside
Meets boy who dreams of tomorrow
Like a golden ticket that never comes
Hopes held high in mediocrity
Only the words can set me free
From standing still forever now.

Oh Lord, where have the years gone?
Still feels like I’m standing here
Nothing but the sound of life
Passing me by
Silent rhythm of my heart beat
Drowning out the popular crowd.