EVERY GRAIN OF SAND
(Words and Music by Bob Dylan)
1981 Special Rider Music
In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There’s a dying voice within me reaching out somewhere,
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.
Don’t have
the inclination to look back on any mistake,
Like Cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break.
In the fury of the moment I can see the Master’s hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.
Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the
weeds of yesteryear,
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and
good cheer.
The sun beat down on the steps of time to light the way
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.
I gaze into the
doorway of temptation’s
angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name.
The onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.
I hear the ancient footsteps like the
motion of the see
Sometimes, I turn, there’s someone there, other times it’s
only me.
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand.
A Message by George Carlin:
The paradox of our time
in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have
less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller
families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees
but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts,
yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke
too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast,
get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little,
watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our
possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too
seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make
a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to
years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble
crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer
space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better
things.
We've cleaned up the air,
but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers
to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but
we communicate less and less.
These are the times of
fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep
profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes
but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are
days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one
night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything
from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much
in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when
technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can
choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time
with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around
forever.
Remember, say a kind word
to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person
soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm
hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure
you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love
you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean
it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep
inside of you.
Remember to hold hands
and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there
again.
Give time to love, give
time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in
your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by
the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our
breath away.
George Carlin