The End of the Race
Embracing Peace: Willy Mason's Poetic Journey through Turmoil
Lyrics
When they came in the night,
When intruders arrived during the night
They said we take what we like
They asserted their right to take what they desired
I said I wish you well, but I've been living like hell
The speaker wished them well but admitted living in a troubled state
I don't have what you need, but I can tell you what I see
Expressing a lack of material possession but offering observational insight
I close my eyes to go to sleep,
In preparation for sleep, closing one's eyes
I feel a gun pressed to my cheek
Sensory imagery of a gun being pressed against the speaker's cheek
I see the ocean rolling fast, I see the grass I see the grass
Observations of the ocean, fast-rolling and the surrounding grass
See it swallow up the past, I see the grass I see the grass
The grass symbolizing the ability to absorb and erase the past
See the hands empty at last, I see the grass I see the grass
Empty hands symbolize a release or letting go
But all you ask me all you ask, all you ask all you ask
Repeated questioning about what the speaker has to offer
What have you got for me?
Continued inquiry: "What have you got for me?"
You knew that this day was coming on,
A realization that a challenging day was approaching
I woke at first daylight
The speaker woke at the break of day
The sun still shining just as bright,
Despite the brightness of the sun, a sense of impending change
As yesterday when it seemed
Comparing the present day to a previous time when the world seemed fragile
The world could end inside a dream
The idea that the world could end within a dream
I put on boots and went outside
The speaker puts on boots and ventures outside
The enemy is still shooting wide
Despite danger, the enemy's shots miss their mark
If they'd believe what I see
If the enemy could see what the speaker sees, they might act differently
They wouldn't shoot so thoughtlessly
Commentary on the consequences of not understanding the speaker's perspective
I see the ocean....
Repetition of the ocean and grass imagery
What have you got for me?
Reiteration of the question: "What have you got for me?"
You knew that this day was coming
Recollection that the anticipated day has arrived
So why didn't you start running
Questioning why one didn't take action or escape earlier
Your hands are now too full to get a way
Hands too occupied now to escape
And this ain't gonna stop till something
The situation won't cease until something changes
Cures you of all your wanting
A call to overcome desire and lose what is clung to
Until you lose what you won't give away
The persistence of challenges until detachment occurs
Its time to make peace with this place
A realization that it's time to find peace in the current circumstances
Call this the end of the race
Describing the current situation as the conclusion of a race
Comment