Whirling and spinning, focusing and fading
The images dance in my mind
I would that they were, by the grace of God
Thoughts of a far different kind
My dreams and fond schemes of wine, women and such
Have been with me since I was a child
These fantasies nursed, have made me accursed
And were the source of my running so wild

Too late now I see, what they did to me
And the sorrow they caused to my friends
For I cannot alter the things I have done
Nor can I, in this life, make amends
But perhaps through the grace and the mercy of God
And in times far different than now
I'll be allowed to atone for the things I have done
With the Good Lord to show me just how

I would like to start all over again
With the word of God as my guide
In a world good and true, and full of love
And a heart with nothing to hide
No fantastic dreams, no lusts or desires
For things that can never be
Just happiness, love, and compassion
Where all men are equal and free

What a change it would be from the turmoil I know
Just to walk in the truth every day
Knowing I'd never make another mistake
With God always guiding my way
This dream alone, out of all I have known
Has a good chance of coming to be
For God sent his Son to save sinners
Even dreamers and fools like me.

I never severed the ties that bind
I tore them up at the roots
And stepped from boy-sized running shoes
Into a pair of man-sized boots

I didn't fit them very well
And staggered in all directions
And wound up a ward of the government
In a Texas house of corrections

If I had it to do all over again
I'd choose shoes that were my own size
And honor the ties to the ones I love
And in doing so be wise.

copyright J.S. Faulder, 1979, 1980, 1981

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