(VERSE 1)
So I started walking
And I started thinking
How will I know
It's a mouthful of minutes
You stumble and you're in it
And man when you're in it
It goes where it goes
(CHORUS 1)
Looking down from the top of that hill
Is the view just gonna stand still
When the lights go out have I earned my ‘standing O'
‘Cause when I move from here to ghost
What's gonna matter most
The wrecks, the breaks, that one night in Marseille
I did thirty-two thousand days,
What's the takeaway
(VERSE 2)
There's no demanding
When you're the last one standing
Who do you tell
Is it all just something
Or just good for nothing
Is there a prize
For ringing the bell
(CHORUS 2)
Looking down from the top of that hill
Is the view just gonna stand still
When the lights go out have I earned my ‘standing O'
‘Cause when I move from here to ghost
What's gonna matter most
The wrecks, the breaks, the things I meant to say
I did thirty-two thousand days,
What's the takeaway
(VERSE 3)
It's a long way to travel
When the wood hits the gavel
How did I do
Am I leaving at believing
And I'm leaving it at even
It's a hell of a thing
It's a hell of a view
(CHORUS 3)
Looking down from the top of that hill
Is the view just gonna stand still
When the lights go out have I earned my ‘standing O'
‘Cause when I move from here to ghost
What's gonna matter most
The wrecks, the breaks, the ones that could not stay
I did thirty-two thousand days,
What's the takeaway
(8-bar musical break)
(CHORUS 4)
Looking down from the top of that hill
Is the view just gonna stand still
When the lights go out have I earned my ‘standing O'
‘Cause when I move from here to ghost
What's gonna matter most
The wrecks, the breaks, the lives I could not save
I did thirty-two thousand days,
What's the takeaway
[2019, Emerson Hart]