WEIGHING LIKE A CITY GATE

who comes to the bar on this fine evening 
it’s Johnny, well he owns the place 
in truth he has not looked that great of late 

it’s a quiet night and I’m singing 
the church bells have long stopped ringing 
and I’m still holding hope that some will come 

how it’s lonely when the second-hand does run 

hey, don’t you look at me that way 
I’m trying to express the pain 
that gift and opportunity have laid 
laid, laid, laid on me 

I’ll never be a doctor 
I’ll never cut the cord 
I’ll just keep on bringing life to these old words 

maybe there’s an architect 
than I can lay my head down next 
until then I guess I’m strumming this guitar 

how it’s lonely when you’re looking out so far 

hey, don’t you look at me that way 
I’m trying to express the pain 
that gift and opportunity have laid 
laid, laid, laid on me 

hey, don’t you look at me that way 
as if to say I’m second rate 
for trying to express my pain 
how gift and opportunity 
are weighing like a city gate 
that I don’t have the patience to 
figure out the open clue 

hey, don’t you look at me that way 
I’m trying to escape

©2019 Noah Derksen. All rights reserved. Lyrics used by permission only.