The Lesson

from The Knowledge of Good and Evil by Earnest Matthew

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lyrics

“hark,” he said, “someone approaches!”
as he leaned his aged ear into the wind
and i, being young, so young and so reckless
i turned my head and disregarded him

what are you gonna say
to a young man who’s gonna have his way
when the only plan he has is just to fake it?
and what are you gonna do
when his telegram comes through
and he finds that he ain’t man enough to take it?

for while pride may disagree
the truth is gonna set you free
but you gotta let it

“see,” said I, “there’s no-one beside us -
there are countless things a man can never truly know”
i turned to find my old guide lying lifeless
and i never saw the blow that laid me low

how do you warn the damned
in terms that they can understand
that the end is nigh, but might yet be averted?
and how do we see the flame
caring only that we know it’s name
must we burn to learn we should be disconcerted?

for while pride may disagree
the truth is gonna set you free
but you gotta let it

must the body turn to dust
before a mortal soul learns how to trust
must my mirror always be my own blood glistening
for face-down in the fertile ground
is where my first taste of grace was found
where i finally learned that life is for the listening

for while pride may disagree
oh the truth is gonna set you free
but you gotta let it

credits

from The Knowledge of Good and Evil, released October 31, 2013

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Earnest Matthew Dallas, Texas

earnestmatthew.com

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