The John Galt Line - Writers Forum

Chimerical · 10-14-2004, 04:40 PM

It was a train wreck
Disguised as a one-night stand
That should've ended three weeks ago
But you know how these things can gain momentum.

Every time you thought to stop it you were further down the track
And knew that you were gonna crash but sometimes
It's just easier to let things run.

And now it's just you
And her
And the guy you didn't know about
And the girl you're still in love with
And everybody else who is gathered around
Watching this whole thing just fall
And it will fall apart
And it will fall apart
You can bet your life.

And it's dinner and dancin'
Back in the dining cart
As the landscape rushes by you wonder out loud
How such a heavy thing could be set so easily in motion.

And a crowd has gathered and it looks like they're cheering you on
You try to feign knowing what you're doing,
They know as well as you do they've come for the spectacular explosion.

So you just fuel the fire
Trying to please everybody and you
End up pleasing nobody and the sound of the engine
It just covers up
The few voices telling you to slow it down
But you won't slow it down
No you won't slow it down
Not until it falls apart
And it will fall apart
You can bet your life.

And at the end of the week you are lying awake in bed
The bandages blend in with the pillows
And the sheets are stained with melodromatic advice

And the sound of a train trails off in the distance
And you are certain you are glad that it's gone but
You still listen for one last whistle's cry

And now it's just you
Alone
With no one there to talk to and
No one there to sing to and
So you sing to yourself
Aloud
As loud as you can and you wonder if
If you should quiet down
But you won't quiet down
You're so afraid you will fall apart
That you don't fall apart
And this is your life.

mammamaia · 10-17-2004, 11:51 AM

i don't get the john galt connection at all [i'm a major rand fan!] and it's not a song lyric, but it's sure a poignant poetic work...

i was a member of the songwriters guild of america in my old life and still write the occasional lyric, so i speak from some experience... you can put anything to music, of course... but to be a real lyric, it should have some structure... recognizable verses, chorus, maybe an intro and a bridge...

i'm really curious about the title, since 'atlas shrugged' is one of my all-time favorite novels...

love and hugs, maia