LifeLine
l. dunkley
I wrote a song about a firehose. I used to live on an island. Fresh water was supplied by ferry. As soon as the boat was safely tied in at the dock, a line was thrown over to one of the workers. That line was attached to a hose. the worker on the dock pulled the line and then, grabbed the hose and clamped it in tight. A signal was sent and the jump cranked up and fresh water was pumped into holding tanks on island. That water sustained the people who lived there. It was our lifeline.
When I learned that my childhood minister had died in the mid 1990s, I dreamt that the fresh water hose had been severed. I woke up with a renewed appreciation for my minister and I wrote this song for his memorial service. I try to make sure that everyone sings the chorus.
time is a funny man
older than my father and younger than my child.
blind, a thief and a beggar-man
asking pennies for your bother, “Come sit with me a while,” he said
it takes forgiveness when He takes a life,
when it takes so much just to turn the day.
time takes for a living, a little more every night
like a damn-fool habit that we can’t seem to break.
(chorus)
hold on, my friends, for the LifeLine
hold on, my friends, to the sea
hold on, my friends, for this evening’s company
time is my eldest daughter
playful in the morning and gently like the rain
nine summers older than the one than when we were born in
and getting younger everyday. She said,
“i will know laughter and i will know life,
although the long road home is dust and grey
she said, "to put one foot forward, you’ve got to leave some things behind,
but, Good Lord, we’ll meet along the way!”
(chorus)
hold on, my friends, for the LifeLine
hold on, my friends, to the sea
hold on, my friends, for this evening’s company
remember all those crazy nights back in New England
and the way the water would shine just like a star
maybe I’m still hoping for one final dance upon that water
and maybe sing a little tune upon this blue guitar…
…hold on.
touching hands is like some precious gift on Christmas Eve
and each and every day
we can stand on the corner of this world if we believe
and make our wish upon the rain
i feel a morning rising…rising up in me
and i feel some sun behind your smile
but it takes forgiveness and it takes a light
when stone cold is the road and long the mile.
(chorus)
hold on, my friends, for the LifeLine
hold on, my friends, to the sea
hold on, my friends, for this evening’s company
hold on, my friends, for the LifeLine