The Gift (6:04) Lyrics

These shoes have walked some strange streets
stranger still to come --
sometimes the prayers of strangers
are all that keeps them from
trying to stay static,
something even death can't do
everything is motion --
to the motion be true

In this cold commodity culture
where you lay your money down
it's hard to even notice
that all this earth is hallowed ground --
harder still to feel it,
basic as a breath --
love is stronger than darkness
love is stronger than death

The gift
keeps moving --
never know
where it's going to land.
You must stand
back and let it
keep on changing hands

Hackles rise in anger,
heat waves rise in sex.
The gift moves on regardless
tying this world to the next.
May you never tire of waiting,
never feel that life is cheap.
May your life be filled with light
except for when you're trying to sleep.

The gift
keeps moving --
never know
where it's going to land
you must stand
back and let it
keep on changing hands.

(Toronto, February 9, 1988)