Marian Call Grandpa Had It Right
Grandpa had it right – oh so much depends upon
The weather and the price of gas, the bills the politicians pass, oh
Grandpa had it right – every morning up at dawn
Eighty-one in old San Juan and ten cents cheaper a little down the road
Grandma had it right – oh so much depends upon
Symmetry and knowing names, on picture books and rhyming games
Grandma had it right – ghosts to scare the sleepless child
Storytime with wolves and wilds that ends with fewer answers than we want
And at the bones of it, at the bones of it, in the stones around the fire
We recount our secret histories one by one
With no altars anymore, we come to the embers for to confess
'Cause beggar, banker, king, and pawn
We're only bones with stories on
My counselor had it right – sleeping out under the stars
Children shivering and scared, refuging in truth or dare
My counselor had it right – far from our pretending screens
All that's left is what things mean and what we whisper when the lights are out
Lord, but we never saw stars like that, no we never saw, never saw
Stars like stars like that
No we never saw stars like that before, should've fall should've fall
Should've
Lord, but I never saw stars like that, no I never saw, never saw
Stars like stars like that
No I never saw stars like that before, should have
Fallen on my knees
And hey hey hey – you know, I like you this way
All overawed and out of breath
And saying what you mean
'Cause I was born for this, I was born for this, I've been ready all my life
To chance on some enchanted secret door
To a kingdom new and wild
To my wonder as a child
And now here you are --
Each of us around the flames
A universe that knows itself by name
And at the bones of it, in the stones around the fire
Our voices will be all we leave behind
Not a one of us can stay, but it keeps the night at bay
It keeps us warm
We wake, we witness, and we're gone
We're only bones with stories on
Beggar banker king and pawn
We're only bones with stories on
Taking turns to watch for dawn
We're only bones with stories on
Pretty but don't last for long
We're only bones with stories on
Beggar banker king and pawn
We're only bones with stories on
And Lord, but I never saw stars like that before...