NEAL MORSE LYRICS

1. Long Day

It's been a long day
But I feel I must travel
'Cause I've seen some hard times
And they're haunting my soul
My life is a shadow
And at home I'm a stranger
And it's been a long day now
But I feel I must go
I've got to go

2. Overture

[Instrumental]

3. The Dream

A man falls asleep in a faraway place
And he dreams of a land outside time and space
That he once read about
Or maybe he never heard
He saw in his dream through a child's eyes
A slave or a king he could not decide
And the man called him forth
Without ever speaking a word

Love is awaiting you he cried
Beg, plead or borrow
But leave here tomorrow
Seek what's beyond the other side
It's life that awaits you
No one will make you
It's yours to decide…

4. City Of Destruction

Sleep depraved. Dawn patrol.
My life blood's running circles 'round my soul
All the people in normal land
Rest while I get a midnight tan
But I…
I just hope I can sleep tonight

How can I shake this stain?
My family thinks that I'm insane like I
Got a vice on my head
My brain goes on like the walking dead
But I…
From within and without
It just keeps on screaming

You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
Don't wait another day
You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
There is no other way

Why are you grieving so?
Everyone must die someday, you know
I can see your trembling hand
You better flee this sun scorched land
'Cause I…
I have been to the gate
You'd better not wait

You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
Don't wait another day
You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
There is no other way

You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
Don't wait another day
This is your chance to escape from the corruption
There is no other way

You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
Where anger breeds disdain
You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
Where pleasure comes with pain

[Guitar solo]

You gotta, you gotta
You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
Where anger breeds disdain
You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
Where pleasure comes with pain
This is your chance to escape from the corruption
Don't wait another day
You gotta get out of the City of Destruction
There is no other way

I've got rocks in my head
Think I'd rather be dead
I don't know what it's really about
Got this rack on my back
Satan's talkin' such smack
All I know is I've got to get out
Yeah!

I've gotta go talk with my wife.
She'll help me make sense of this.
She'll help me make sense of this.

5. We Have Got To Go

We have got to go
Can't you see that there's destruction here?
Let's leave tonight, take a ride, hit the road
I promise it will be better, dear

If you stay you'll be lost
And we'll be apart
And that would surely break my heart

Well, I can see that you're gone,
It's all gone away
Please, babe, let's go together
Where eternity flows forever
Just beyond…

6. Makes No Sense

The quick, the awakening dead
Come to life as I'm led to the highway with few passersby
As I move straight ahead
With the city behind
A few friends tell me why I should stay
But what they say
Makes no sense to me

Makes zero sense

It makes no sense to me
Yeah, oh yeah.
It makes no sense to me

To live like the normal man
To run like an "also ran"
To sink down the waterhole
It makes no sense to me

To live in the common place
A cog in the paper chase
A heart set on cruise control

Stop!
Take a look right here
Everyone's so clear
and they think they know where you should go

But in the depth there's a door
And there is a "No" at your core
While they tell you it's better their way
But what they say
Makes no sense to me

To live like the normal man
To run like an "also ran"
To sink down the waterhole
It makes no sense to me

To groan in the daily grind
Your love always left behind
Gain a life but lose your soul
It makes no sense to me

To live life painted on
To feel like I should've gone
But fear made me stay
It makes no sense to me

To wait when you have to go
Pretend that you didn't know
You're one step away
It makes no sense to me

To walk when you could have run
To live like a setting sun
Awaiting the day
It makes no sense to me

The road leading left or right
Toward day or toward the night
You're one step away

7. Draw The Line

We've come to bring you back around
You're lost but you can still be found
What makes you think that you just couldn't stay
That you know the way anyway?

Come back to who you are
Let's hit the road

What makes you better than us all?
You think you know but you are wrong
Come back and make yourself some better pay
What you say, say anyway?

This isn't who you are
Let's smoke a bowl

I can't go with you
I have made up my mind
Something better awaits
Worth all you'll leave behind
Draw the line

You're the one who's deaf and dumb and blind
For whack jobs like you I got no time
You're crazier than what the people say
I'll be on my way, way anyway

We'll see you later days
C'mon
Let's hit the road
Oh

I won't go with you
Can't you see that you're blind?
You should come with me
Don't be fooled, you're not fine
Draw the line

[Guitar solo]

I think I see your way
I'd really like to know
Something so beautiful
If only for one day
Something so beautiful

[Instrumental interlude]

I think I see your way
I'd really like to know
I'd really like to know
If only for one day
Something so beautiful
Something so beautiful
I know now what it's worth, what it's worth
I'll go with you to the ends of the earth

8. The Slough

[Instrumental]

9. Back To The City

I'm slipping in the slime
I'm running out of time
Abandoned in this hell
You said all would be well
But you lied!
Yeah, you lied.

So, I'm going back
I'm going back
Yeah

I'm going back to the city
Knockin' on the door
Back to the city
To where I was before
Back to the city where I am not alone
I'm going home

[Instrumental interlude]

Why would you leave me here?
As soon as troubles rise
Don't give a place to fear
He'll wipe every tear from your eyes

I've got my ball and Jack
And now I'm goin' back
If now it's dark and cold
What more awaits you down this road?

I'm going back to the city
I can hardly wait
Back to the city
Passing through the gate
I'm going back to the city
The lights, the stars, the show
I'm coming home

I'm going back to the city
Knocking on the door
Back to the city
To where I was before
I'm going back to the city
Light up the Superdome
I'm coming home
I'm coming home

The man sank deep in that miry ground
With the pack on his back still weighing him down
While his friend left them there
Without even saying goodbye

He reached to the side and found hope was there
As a hand helped him out of the pit of despair
He shook himself off and walked in the way of the sky…

10. The Ways Of A Fool

Walking straight ahead wondering in the way I wander
My feet are feeling fine
What's that up ahead?
Someone coming up the way

He is a worldly man!
I tell him my plan and he says,
"What are you doing?
You're simple as pudding
It's not worth pursuing
I know the way out!

All the ways of a fool
They are right in his own eyes
Go on back, keep your cool
Don't you miss the city lights?
And those worldly delights
Trust me I know I'm right

Reason is the rule
Logic is a mighty fortress
And life is nothing more
Perception is the truth
Why not make it what you want?
And I'm a successful man!
My offer is easy
Invent your reality, made up morality
Legal legality second to none."

All the ways of a fool
They are right in his own eyes
Go on back, keep your cool
Don't you miss the city lights?
And those worldly delights
Trust me I know I'm right

[Instrumental interlude]

[Beach Boys style phrasing:]
All the ways of a fool
They are right in his own eyes
Go on back, keep your cool
Don't you miss the city lights?
And those worldly delights
Trust me I know I'm right

[Instrumental interlude / Guitar solo]

I think I'll go the way
Walking with the worldly wise man
I'll just change it up a bit
And go the more logical way

'Cause it seems good to me
To live a life that's free from care
And my new reality
I will speak into the air

And life is awaiting me
I'll learn what they're teaching me
And surely my destiny will follow
Forget all about that dream
I'll find a place in between
And just take a turn-about tomorrow

11. So Far Gone

I walked into the change
But now it feels so wrong
There's mountains in my way
And I just can't go on
How did I get so far gone
To who I am today?
How did I get so far gone?

I veered off to the left
I took the man's advice
With just one little step
But in the course of time

How did I get so far gone
To who I am today?
Now my life seems painted on
And I'm so far gone
Maybe too far gone
To ever find the way – hey, yeah, yeah. Woo!

[Instrumental interlude]

I used to seize the day
Living from the heart
But now I'm torn apart
But I have lost my way
And now it's getting dark

How did I get so far gone
To who I am today?
Now my life seems painted on
And I'm so far gone
Maybe too far gone
Yes I'm too far gone
Maybe too far gone
To ever find the way

[Instrumental interlude]

You can turn
You're not too far
The King loves you
With all his heart
And every lie can be made true
For I have seen the broken sky turn blue
The broken sky turn blue

You think He would have me still
After I left His will
And did some things I knew were wrong
You choose your destiny
Now I begin to see
The man I would like to be
Deep as a river song
It now makes sense to me
Go to the wicket gate
Go and don't hesitate
His will is the way
It now makes sense to me

Don't be deceived again
By the sleight hand of men
With feet made of clay
It now makes sense to me
Shine to the mountain peak
Shine to the place you seek
That won't fade away

12. Breath Of Angels

There through the trees
Something is in the clearing
Is this the way?
A glimpse of the gate
As music beyond all hearing
Begins to play

Is that my father smiling?
What are those steps he's climbing?
He waves me forward
As if to say it's OK

With the breath of angels
Charging up the atmosphere
And all around me
Is the love that casts out all fear
And the breath of angels
Dries away every tear

There up ahead
A place beyond understanding
Somewhere I've known
And I, I belong
Like a child who's been abandoned
Returning home

This burden I've had upon me
Has sucked all the life out from me
And I thought many times I'd reached the end
Yes, I did

But with the breath of angels
Charging up the atmosphere
And all around me
Is the love that casts out all fear
Oh, God, my father,
In Your mercy You brought me here
Where the breath of angels
Dries away every tear

The river's overrun
And it's flowing from the sky
We live to fall in love
In a city made of light

[Guitar solo]

With the breath of angels
Charging up the atmosphere
And all around me
Is the love that casts out all fear
In the host of heaven
Sing along so the world can hear
As the breath of angels
Dries away every tear – oh, oh
As the breath of angels
Dries away every tear

13. Slave To Your Mind

I thought that I was done
That I had now arrived
But he showed me so much more
Amazing to my sight

A room consumed with dust
A cloud that filled the air
The filth of sin and shame
Of corruption and despair

Then I saw myself
Even after all I'd heard
Breathing in the dust
Choking out the word

Then a woman came with water
And I drank it deep and long
We spoke in secret words
We sang a sacred song

I saw in my dream
The interpreter and the man
Behind a wall of flame
He took him by the hand
He took him by the hand

The fire was a gift
But there was one about
Wet blankets in his fists
He tried to put it out
He tried to put it out

And he said
You have not been changed
Feel your guilt and shame
You've been left behind
You're a slave to your mind

I saw someone else
On the other side
Pure oil flowed from him
'Til fire filled the sky

You have not been changed
Feel your guilt and shame
You've been reassigned
You're a slave to your mind

[Solo]

You have not been changed
Feel your guilt and shame
You've been left behind
You're a slave to your mind

14. Shortcut To Salvation

Then in my dream
I saw two men appear
They didn't take the long way
Instead they jumped the wall

They stood in the way
The journey man was on
Accused him and confused him
About the Glory Road

And they said you can take it easy
This life is not so hard
Why don't you come join us in our merry band?

There's a shortcut to salvation
Cruise down the boulevard
Where decadence and destiny go hand-in-hand

Then I was there
I saw him up the road
Whistlin' down the long way
He knew he had to go…

And they said you can take it easy
This life is not so hard
Why don't you come join us in our merry band?

There's a shortcut to salvation
Cruise down the boulevard
Where decadence and destiny go hand-in-hand

[Sax solo]

You should take it easy
Life is not so hard
Why don't you come join us in our merry band?

There's a shortcut to salvation
Cruise down the boulevard
Where decadence and destiny go hand-in-hand

But I have seen the place called home
And now my life is not my own
For I was bought with the highest price
What can I do but give my life?

[Mixed vocals with the last chorus: You should take…]
For I have seen the place called home
And now my life is not my own
I hear the call to Kingdom Ground
And all I am I lay it down for You
I lay it down for You

15. The Man In The Iron Cage

I'm the man in the iron cage of fear
I've been locked in this place for 1000 years

I used to believe like you
I used to be someone who
Showed to others the way but now
I'm lost

No one ever made me what I am
Burned my bridges, sold my house,
My car, my friends

I used to believe like you
I used to be someone who
Showed to others the way but now
I'm lost

I took every guardrail down
I never thought I'd be found out
But my secret sin surely had a cost

[Keyboard / Guitar solos]

Surely you can find your way back home
Surely you can turn to God alone
You are never too far gone
His mercy's new each day
You can still sing freedom's song
You're not so far gone
You're never too far gone
To ever turn again

I'm the man in the iron cage of death
Started with a little slip, now it's such a mess

I used to believe like you
I used to have dreams like you do
But now I'm a prisoner of my rage

When you think you're sure to stand
When you're runnin' the race I ran
Remember the man in the iron cage

16. The Road Called Home

A man fell asleep in a faraway land
And I saw in my mind he awoke again
To the city of light his journey continued on
He walked down a hill where he saw two men
Asleep by a mill, he woke them and then
They spoke of the way, their names
Were simple and sloth
And sloth, and...

17. Sloth

I have no need
No indeed
I have no need for speed
Take a rest
I suggest
You are already blessed

Why do you work so hard?
It's necessary to be sedentary
Be in the place you are
Life's not habitual when you're spiritual like me

It is no sin
Nothing makes me grin
More than sleeping in

I yawn and drool
But I know it's cool
My debts been paid in full

Why do you work so hard?
It's necessary to be sedentary
Be in the place you are
Life's not habitual when you're spiritual like me

And it's been a long day
And it's easy to stumble
But we're headed somewhere
And I don't always know
I can't sleep or slumber
Or I could get lost here
And it's been a long day now
But it's time to move on – it's time to move on
It's time to move on.

18. Freedom Song

Then in my dream was a highway
With tall blazing trees all around
The journey man bent as the pack on
His back weighed him down

He walked 'til he came to a clearing
A place he'd seen somewhere before
He walked up the hill
Heard a voice like an opening door

Leave all your burdens here
Cry away every tear
I'll take your pain and all your sorrow
Son you've been gone too long
This is your freedom song
Sing and the grace of God will follow now.

I watched as the man fell on down to his knees
As the pack on his back hit the floor
It rolled down the hill and would never be seen anymore!

Leave all your burdens here
Cry away every tear
I'll take your pain and all your sorrow
Son you've been gone too long
This is your freedom song
Sing and the grace of God will follow

Leave all your burdens here
Cry away every tear
I'll take your pain and all your sorrow
Son you've been gone too long
This is your freedom song
Sing and the grace of God will follow now.

19. I'm Running

Lifted and free with no weight on me
I'm running
Black was the way but my destiny
Is coming – woo!
I'm running
Got no chains hanging down on me
It's funny
How things change when your heart is free

I'm not the man I was yesterday
I'm running
I'm ready to go like a GTO engine gunning
I'm running
Got no chains hanging down on me
It's funny
How things change when your heart is free

[Instrumental interlude / Guitar solo]

Lifted and free with no place to be
I'm running
Black was the way but a brand new day is coming
Woo! I'm running
Got no chains hanging down on me
And it's funny
How things change when your heart is free
When your heart is free
When your heart is free
(But wait there's more…) but wait there's more
(But wait there's more…) but wait there's more
(But wait there's more)
Can there be more? (But wait there's more)
Can there be more? (But wait there's more)
More, more, more… (but wait there's more)
More, more, more…
(More in store…)

20. The Mask

I have come a long way
I've met many a friend
Who gave to me their hearts,
Their bread, and their wine
Into the lower lands
Down to the depths of self
I have come
To discover what's lying behind
The mask
My mask

It might tear me apart
If I see what's inside my heart, my heart

The ground is so dank
The air is sour in the valley of humiliation
I can see him now
Coming for me there will be no negotiation
It's here
He's here

Man, he's ugly as sin
Slimy scales are his precious pride

Should I go back in retreat
Or do I confront the beast
If I turn and run he'll get my gun
Better stand and face Apollyon

21. Confrontation

He told me all I'd done
That I desired to be praised
That I was filled with selfish pride
And death would be my wage

I told him he was right
I did deserve the grave
But the Prince, the One I serve
He's strong enough to save

How can you think you're loved after the things you've done?
You are a poor excuse and not a favored son
You are surely too far gone
Just give it up today
I am the great powerful one
Give it up, my son
If you take me on
Even God can't save you now

[Instrumental interlude]

You gotta, you gotta
You gotta go back to the City of Destruction
This clearly is your fate
You gotta go back to the City of Destruction
Your destiny awaits
You gotta go back to the City of Destruction
Don't wait another day
You gotta go back to the City of Destruction
There is no other way

I will spill you
I will kill you
This is where your search has come to
Out of my way
You are my prey
Come at me and you will surely die
Die!

You are empty
You don't tempt me
You are out but I've got plenty
You are bleeding
Not succeeding
I am ever reaching for the sky
Die!

22. The Battle

[Instrumental]

23. Broken Sky / Long Day (Reprise)

I have been tormented
And I have been deceived
I have known depression
A thousand nights I couldn't sleep

Facing all my enemies
I was paralyzed with fear
But following a question
And I'm not really clear
But it led me here…

Where I have seen and I have known
By setting down the road called home
The journey is to be with you
For I have seen the broken sky turn blue
The broken sky turn blue

Why go through the trouble?
Why not just disappear?
Why all of these questions?
Why doesn't God just make it clear?

The rain becomes a river
The stream becomes a lake
Keep following the whisper
No matter what it takes
Until you reach the gate

Where I have seen and I have known
By setting down the road called home
The journey is to be with you
Your love has made the broken sky turn blue
The broken sky is blue

There's a song in the night
There's a city of light
There's a universe yet to be known
There's an opening door
There's so very much more
As together we seek to come home – home, home.

[Instrumental interlude / Guitar solo]

Yeah, I have seen
And I have known by setting down the road called home
At journey's end
I end with you
For I have seen
The broken sky turn blue – oh oh

Now I belong to you
I belong to you

[Long Day (Reprise)]

And it's been a long day now
Down this road I have traveled
And it's been a dark night
And I've been searching so long
Through the rain and the fire
I have finally found you
And it's been a long day now
But this son's coming home
This son's coming home
This son's coming home – c'mon

[Instrumental interlude / Guitar solo]

To be the completed man
To love and to understand
To change everything I can
It now makes sense to me
To be who I could not be
To love you so easily
With your life inside of me
Let the great adventure now begin







NEAL MORSE LYRICS