Lost in Translation

Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad sittin' on a subway train
peace and blessings be upon them – that's what you're supposed to say
one looks at the other, says, it's on the father when to take it all away
but do you ever wonder if they ever do the right things in our names?

Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad sittin' on a war-torn hill
looking around, wondering what this fightin' 's all about
one looks at the other, says, it's on the father – a silent prayer shudders down the line
but do you ever wonder if we did the right things with all this time?

Back and forth so quickly, 'round and 'round so slow
do you really want what no man can know?
The sun comes up, the sun goes down, the garden grows
do you wonder if there's more than just the repetition of the show?

The little man looks up at the juggernaut, says, how can you live in the belly of this machine?
He looks down on him, says, how can you sleep where the city screams?
But maybe some day we can find a place where I am you and you are me,
some place where we can disagree, like the pendulum swings

Back and forth so quickly, 'round and 'round so slow
do you really want what no man can know?
The sun goes up, the sun goes down, the garden grows,
do you wonder if there's more than just the repetition of the show?

When the shouts of victory shroud the tyranny of sex and lies and liberty,
That nothin' means nothin' is the saddest thing that the hero ever said to the sea
I want to be somebody, but I don't want a black heart pumping cold, hard greed
If you can find love you're bound to get it right or so it seems to me

Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad stand against a subway wall
waiting for the train to come around and take them home
one looks at the other, says, I don't understand this western metaphor
but do you think they'll remember to read between the lines of what they wrote, before...

Back and forth so quickly, 'round and 'round so slow
do you really want what no man can know?
The sun goes up, the sun goes down, the garden grows
do you wonder if there's more than just the repetition of the show?

(S.R.Osborne, 5/26/10)