Each One Lost

Under the big lights
Shadows stretching long
The ramp is lowered gently to the tarmac
And all of us, we wait
In this sea of gravity
For the precious cargo to appear
Here come the dead boys
Moving slowly past
The pipes and prayers and strained commanding voices
And the tears in our hearts
Make an ocean we’re all in
All in this together don’t you know
You can die on your sofa
Safe inside your home
Or die in a mess of flame and shrapnel
We all in our time go
You know you’re not alone
You’re in the hearts of everybody here
Each one lost
Is everyone’s loss you see
Each one lost is a vital part of you and me
Some would have us bow
In bondage to their dreams
Of little gods who lay down laws to live by
But all these inventions
Arise from fear of love
And openhearted tolerance and trust
Well screw the rule of law
We want the rule of love
Enough to fight and die to keep it coming
If that sounds like confusion
Brother think again
We know exactly what we chose
Each one lost
Is everyone’s loss you see
Each one lost is a vital part of you and me