walking fifty miles

 on melrose hill i count each single star

the night is heavy but i have the time

to think about my purpose on the climb

and wonder at the passing of each car

this morning distances did not seem far

and now i feel each little bit of grime

still looking up the moment is sublime

and nothing can this perfect journey mar

each mile has put its stamp into my feet

so much is obvious in the tropic dark

as i make game of what is still a test

my heart must wonder at what i will meet

the kind of future that i have to mark

and the long hours still left before i rest

the just gentleman

 there's no one here to pay the price of shame

so we must meet to argue the full toss

as if the whole adventure were a game

 

you'd think to come out here to some acclaim

expect to end the day as chief or boss

there's no one here to pay the price of shame

 

it seems to me the story's rather tame

we were sent out to bear a paltry cross

as if the whole adventure were a game

 

you are the victim of some sort of fame

who watched as gold turned into vulgar dross

there's no one here to pay the price of shame

 

in time we will find ways to spread the blame

and then apply a soothing sort of gloss

as if the whole adventure were a game

 

our final task is to put out the flame

and make quite sure that you absorb the loss

there's no one here to pay the price of shame

as if the whole adventure were a game

a list of the names

 it does not matter that the guard is set

once past the gate you don't care what is there

since you are clean of the wretched affair

 

it is a factor of intense regret

that no one notices the changing air

it does not matter that the guard is set

 

so now you have no need left to forget

just who you were and so much time to spare

to do those things that no one else would dare

it does not matter that the guard is set