Caedmon's Call

Caedmon's Call Caedmon's Call Lyrics
1.Bus Driver

I am a bus driver and it's four in the morning
And I'm pressing out my clothes beside my bed
Fourteen years been on the job
And with many miles behind
Still I'm up at 3:30 to make sure I'm there on time
My car gets me along just fine
To and from the station
But my castle is this Houston Metro bus
My first stop is Ashbury
The sign's been gone for years
All the same the people wait
'Cause they know that I'll be there
(Chorus)
What would you say
If I told you that I won't be by to day
Would you say that
I'm just a bus driver
And what do I know
Just a bus driver
And what do I know
Just a bus driver
And what do I know
I'm always there by 5:15
And lately I've been early
Judith likes to be in early to the bank
And she gives me conversation
And a token good for riding
And she's happy all alone
And then there's Charles in retail sales
And I hope they pay him well
For all the work that young man does
'Cause I've never seen the inside of a custom refrigerator
But I know that he's the first and last one there
(repeat chorus)
And I wonder how this world would be
If I was never here
To drive this bus around from Ashbury to Main
I suppose this town would be the same
With one bus less exhaust
But that bank and retail store
They just wouldn't be the same
But what can I see
From the limited confines of my bus driving seat
Only me
And I'm just a bus driver
And what do I know
I'm just a bus driver
And what do I know
Just a bus driver
And what do I know
Just a bus driver
So don't believe that
Just a bus driver
Well don't believe that
Just a bus driver
Well don't believe that
We're all just bus drivers
And it's time to go home


2.Center Aisle

In November of '95, the sister of a friend of mine from high
school
committed suicide. Having never been to a funeral, I was very
apprehensive, especially since I had been asked to play a song
during
the service. Seeing her in that room along with all of those
people who
loved her and cared about her really made me think. I mainly
wondered
if whatever it was that had driven her to that point could have
been
worked out in that quiet room with that group of people. I
suppose
questions just lead to more questions. I wrote this song on the
way
back home in the car. (Derek Webb)
Thank God I'm back in my car
And driving home
And driving home
'Cause the air was thin and so cold
Back in there
It was my first time
Won't be my last time
And the questions rise
Expectations fall
In light of it all
There aren't words to say
Words aren't remembered
But presence is
A good friend once told me
And he was there
He was there
But she wasn't there
It's not fair
It's not fair
(Chorus)
What crimes have you committed
Demanding such a penance
That couldn't wait for five more minutes
And a cry for help
'Cause this room is so peaceful
And this room is so quiet
And I hate the silence
And I can't walk the center aisle
I've been here for over three hours
Behind the flowers
So beautiful and young
And so alive
And so in need of someone
Someone to talk to them
'Cause theirs are fragile lives
(repeat chorus)
And I think about my brother
And how I just stood there
With my hands in my pockets
And my heart in my throat
Thank God I'm back in my car
And driving home
And driving home
But in that place I leave
All my days of taking life for granted
And the words I wrote for her
And my best friend crying
And a young girl lying
On all our hearts
(repeat chorus)


3.Close Of Autumn

When I'm cold and alone all I want is my freedom
And a sudden gust of gravity
I stop wailing and kicking
Just to let this water cover me, cover me
Only if I rest my arms, rest my mind
You'll overcome me and swell up around me
With my fighting so vain, with my vanity so fought
I'm rolling over
(Chorus)
'Cause in just the same way
That the stream becomes swollen
Swollen with cold up over the ground
When my heart draws close to the close of autumn
Your love, your love abounds
All the time I'm thinking
Wondering how would it be
To breathe in deep
I guess I need to be careful
When I ask for a drink
(Just might get what I ask for)
And I know just what you'd say to me
That's why I don't ask you
What would I ask you?
I'm like a bullheaded boy these days
Crying my toy's gone...
You're shiny and new
(repeat chorus)
Guess I'll drop my anger here
Before I float away
And the chains around me
An awful lot of talking
I don't leave you much to say
You didn't ever leave me
And my greatest fear
Was you'd leave me here
A long time back my feet
Could touch the bottom


4.I Just Don't Want Coffee

Though I am small I've seen things far beyond these city walls
The land is flat and it rolls for miles
I don't know much I know I've many places yet to see
I know I've been here for a while
Wouldn't you know just when I thought I had this figured out
I'm back at my first day at school
Trying not to think too loud I raise my hand to scratch my head
I've no ideas of what to do
'Cause something's changed today
And what it is I just can't say
And if I don't seem okay, well I'm okay
(Chorus)
So sue me, sue me, if I just don't want coffee tonight
Back in this coffee house where we just met a week ago
Now we've been friends since we were young
But all our conversations are hitting walls we can't ignore
We can hide but we can't run
And I can't run from you
Or what we've run into
Now regardless what I choose, we both lose
(repeat chorus)
It must be getting late
Where's my head
Where is my head
Where is my head
I still hear you telling me what a big mistake I've made
Funny that's what I've been telling you
I can lead a horse to water
You can even make him drink
But you can't change his point of view
Tonight as I was driving home I passed a coffee shop
You know I wrestled with the truth
And how I'd explain to you what you could never understand
And how I'd keep my mind from you
But that's the price I pay
Your way is not my way
Today's another day and it's okay
(repeat chorus)
I think I need some rest
Rest my head, arrest my head
Rest my head, arrest my head
Rest my head, arrest my head


5.Lead Of Love

Looking back at the road so far
The journey's left its share of scars
Mostly from leaving the narrow and straight
Looking back it is clear to me
That a man is more than the sum of his deeds
And how you make good of this mess I've made
Is a profound mystery
(Chorus)
Looking back you know
You had to bring me through
All that I was so afraid of
Though I questioned the sky now I see why
Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view
Looking back I see the lead of love
Looking back I can finally see
How failures bring humility
(I'd rather have wisdom and pain)
Brings me to my knees
(Than be a comfortable old fool)
Helps me see my need for thee
(repeat chorus)


6.Not Enough

I mount up with waxen wings
High to reach the sun
And I am no further than
When I first begun
So I build a mount of Athos
To shape your form against the sky
With my home in your hands to show all the people why
To show all the people why
(Chorus)
Everything I do
It's not enough for you
Everything I do
It's not enough
It's not enough for you
In the garden of my pride
The lamented lime tree
Too stupid to cry for rain
Fruitless and choked out by weeds
So I write a book of life
Using the best words I can find
For some struggler to snuggle up
When the world becomes unkind
When the world becomes unkind
(repeat chorus)
I find direction in eastbound clouds
And long for what they might have
But when I step into its midst
Its substance I cannot grasp
So I paint a portrait of you
As if you had human disguise
With oil and canvas to be clay
To open up their eyes
Like you opened up my eyes
(repeat chorus twice)


7.Not The Land

So many miles behind
Still I drive with the pedal down
I was off the map hours back
It's beneath the seat, I think
It's with two pennies and a match
And something else, I can't remember
But in the time that it would take to fish it out
I'll be another mile gone
And I feel so wrong
Trying to feel right
In light of all the things I've passed
You'd think that I'd have learned
(Chorus)
This is not the land was promised me
Even as far as my eyes can see
I'm so wound up, Lord, I can't even breathe
And I don't want words, I just want some peace
Some peace, some peace
It seems I've misplaced my faith
'Cause it's 11:12, and nothing's changed
Well, nothing except the channel I'm afraid
And the number there
No, it's the same
Oh, this must be the savior of the month
And what I must have
Where's the night gone?
'Cause I'm so tired and out of shape
You've gotta get me up
But I can't get up today
'Cause it's been so long
Since I've felt right
All the rote, rehearsal, proof
You'd think that I'd have learned
(repeat chorus)
Break me, break me, break me
This is not the land was promised me
Gotta get out of bed, get something to read
And I gotta feed my brother, not my eyes
If not, then I'll be all I despise


8.Standing Up For Nothing

I can't stop staring at myself
My face reflected in this empty plate
I can't decide if it's the devil
Or if it's just something I ate
'Cause he's been down there all morning
He's patiently waiting at my gate
He's throwing rocks at my window
'Hey won't you come on out and play with me'
And every day when I get up
I see folks trading in their crowns
For all these paper or plastic lives
An opiate for the masses' hounds
And pride like a vestige of lives lost
The stench of the old folks coming around
Now with the news I heard today
I can't tell if this world is lost or found
You go, I'll be waiting here
And I'm awake, no I cannot sleep
So I'll sit upon this rock is you
I ain't standing up for nothing
I've never seen my congressman
But I can't deny that he exists
'Cause I've seen his legislation pass
I've seen his name on the ballot list
The same I can't deny this fallen world
Though not my home it's where I live
How can I preserve and light the way
For a world that I can't admit I'm in
'Cause I know who I say you are
But these crows can't be made to stop
So I'll sit denying by this fire
I ain't standing up for nothing
Lack of interest leads to
Lack of knowledge leads to
Lack of perspective leads to
Lack of communication leads to
Lack of understanding leads to
Lack of concern leads to
This complacency denotes
This approval denies
The truth
But I can't stop staring at myself
It's my face reflected in this empty plate
And I know that it's the devil
So you lead, I'll be close behind
So you speak, I'll hang on your words
You've got to lift me from this hardened tree
'Cause I ain't standing up for nothing


9.Stupid Kid

I think this place is swell
There's much familiar here
I get my laundry done
And I get home-cooked meals
When I'm feeling tired
I can turn off all the lights
Ignore the knocking on the door
Pretend I'm not alive
(Chorus)
Daddy, it's Saturday
And I don't want to go outside
And mow the grass today
Would you love me just as much
If I was just your stupid kid
Would you love me just as much
If I was just your stupid kid
They tell me that I'm bright
Sometimes I think they're right
But I guess I'll never know
'Cause I won't go outside
Some days it's just so hot
And others it's so cold
Too much exposure to the sun
Would just make me look old
(repeat chorus)
Isn't this Saturday
Sure feels like Saturday
Wake me Saturday
Daddy, it's Saturday
And my mind wanders off
To things I've never seen
Are these walls higher than the cost of opportunity
I'm too big for my bed
And I've outgrown my shoes
But my fear of leaving
Is the one thing I just can't lose
Daddy, it's Saturday
And I don't want to go outside
And mow the grass today
Would you love me just as much
If I never got a job
And if I never left your house
Would I be of use to you
If I never amounted to much more
Than just your stupid kid
Would you love me just as much
If I was just your stupid kid


10.This World

There's tarnish on the golden rule
And I want to jump from this ship of fools
Show me a place where hope is young
And a people who are not afraid to love
(Chorus)
This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want
And nothing that I need
This world is making me drunk
On the spirits of fear
So when he says who will go
I am nowhere near
(repeat chorus twice)
And the least of these
Look like criminals to me
So I leave Christ on the street
This world has held my hand
And has led me into intolerance
But now I'm waking up
And now I'm breaking up
But now I'm making up
For lost time
(repeat chorus)