Were You Born for This

have you left the battlefield drenched
with everything that brought you here
did you spare nothing
did you abandon good sense, forsake your fear
did you bloody your fists, your face
did you begin to persevere
so hungry and you wanted more
on the great divide
where the river flows to the two seas
a land not yet charted
hearts yet to be buried at wounded knees
a calling from your wilderness
out of the dark and into your plight
it's the verse that you sing
painting your lines before the fight
on the peak, on the edge of this
did you stand against
did you hold your ground, refuse and resist
did your faith get tested, and all that you trust
did you boldly persist
this is more than a test
an emergency broadcast
this is civil war, march forth under this flag
it's what you came here for
fighting for liberty, but presented only defeat
rome is still burning
a horde descends from the hills, rise to your feet
get up, face this, unshakeable and tenacious
a storm is rolling in
were you born for this

1982

plastic is melting
in the brilliant sun
on a scorching sidewalk
where we used to run
calamity riders break
amongst trees locked fast
under time's fading keys
shouting warriors tumble through
if they ever caught their prey
wouldn't know what to do
unstoppable forces meet
immovable time
always in motion
forever we climb
magnetic north
cannot lead you there
to a place where a month
is almost a year
the streets are forgotten
the maps washed away
and the legends change
whenever they're played
still there's a way back
to find where i live
in an age where providence
felt inclined to give
renderings and glimpses
in an unaltered view
the best of skinned knees
the year of 1982