SOCIETY

Words and Music by Danny Oertli ' 1994

The dust settled around my feet as I kneeled to wash my face
And I could hear the cold spring water on a stone not far away
But as I arose from this oasis something caught my eye
Because around a tree and down a grassless hill
There was rubble from a day gone by

So I gathered up my courage and I headed toward this place
Where grand hotels and gambling halls had fallen in disgrace
And all around were the last remains of what used to be
A town that rocked with plastic laughter
A town called Society

One building stood in the ruins and I jumped through a banging door
White dust covered all the room and broken furniture was on the floor
Dusty air then turned into faces wailing wind became voices from time
A vision took shape of how things once were
And I pressed on unsure of mind

Past a staircase and down a hall each room was a place to hide
Eat drink and be merry my friend your desires will not be denied
As I walked I kept felling something I could not grasp
They thought they had what it took to be happy
But I knew that It just wouldn't last
Just then the vision grew ugly darkness came falling down
Distrust and deceit filled the air and all the people were islands alone
Every man for himself I heard him say as the children were put outside
Then the helpless weren't helped and the collapse was complete
The society totally died

Alone again I stood as the vision slipped away
Then a cold hard wind turned my head to a note from an older day
A tattered piece of paper hung from a string tacked to a board
I began to read the words he wrote and it started off Dear Lord

We began this life with you I know you made us creations's crown
But we built our town in another place than where you put us down
We thought we could make life simple few things to slow us up
Everyone did what was right in his eyes but it was never enough

The lusting grew and the parties too and we lost our virgin eyes
Those simple ways turned to selfish rag and hate's thunder filled our skies
We built this town so fast and cheap and we did not count the cost
Now it's fallen down with a crash and our children too are lost
So as you read this note, my friend don't forget this sight you see
We built this town on the shifting sand It was a Godless society