Torches Together

[Verse 1]

Why burn poor and lonely?

Under a bowl or under a lampshade

Or on the shelf beside the bed

Where at night you lay turning like a door on its hinges?

First on your left side, then on your right side

Then your left side again

[Verse 2]

Why burn poor and lonely?

Tell all the stones we're gonna make a building

We'll be cut into shape and set into place

Or if you'd rather be a window I'll gladly be the frame

Reflecting any kind words we'll let in all the blame

And ruin our reputation all the same

So never mind our plan making, we'll start living

Anyway, aren't you unbearably sad?

Then why burn so poor and lonely?

[Chorus]

We'll be like torches, we'll be like torches

We'll be like torches, oh

We'll be torches together, torches together!

We'll be like torches, we'll be like torches

With whatever respect our tattered dignity demands

Torches together, hand in hand

[Verse 3]

Why pluck one string?

What good is just one note?

Oh, one string sounds fine, I guess

But we were once one notes

We were lonely wheat, quietly ground into grain

What light and momentary pain

So why the safe distance, this curious look?

Why tear out single pages when you can throw away the book?

Why pluck one string when you can strum the guitar?

Strum the guitar, strum the guitar

Strum the guitar with no beginning, with no ending

Take down the guitar and strum the guitar

Strum the guitar if you're afraid

And I'm afraid and everyone's afraid and everyone knows it

But we don't have to be afraid anymore

[Outro]

You played the flute but no one was dancing

You sang a sad song but none of us cried

You played the flute but no one was dancing

And you sang a sad song and none of us cried

You played the flute but no one was dancing

You sang a sad song but none of us cried

You played the flute but no one was dancing

And you sang a sad song, you sang such a sad song