Water Under Bridges Rise

i study the veins on my mother's hands, as i did as a kid, but still can't understand, how she still stands. her wrinkled skin tells a tale. was it in '63 that you finally first reached a teenage year? only to find you would journey the rest alone. i never thought of stolen youth, water under bridges rise, their death doesn't mean my demise.

13 is a long way from grown.
13 is a long way from home.

drop out of school, join the war, is it better than here? it's better than home. this small town is crying and you are all alone.

put yourself on real tight...gotta wear yourself just right. now reveling, god is love and might makes right. finally been chosen, gonna live in the "city upon a hill" and be a "beacon of light". let's join the choir and start to sing real loud. kneel with those buying into manifest destiny and agree that those not chosen will be forever lost at sea.

i was never asked much tolerance, what i got--a time of little asking. when everyone is diced and distracted, with no such enemy deliberately. i see things i could change but...if this continues, i could just ease on by.