Story Behind The Song
Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" gave me the idea for this song. Humans sometimes have to make a decision about whether to do the "right" thing and hurt someone (like Huck's obligation to turn in his slave friend, Jim) or go against the "rules" to save an
Song Description
This song is about how "good" people can sometimes hurt others in their desire to be righteous.
Song Length |
5:42 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
Language |
English |
Lyrics
That Wall
You are a man in love with principle
Against any demon you?d be invincible
When you look in the mirror an honest face smiles back at you
?Cause you?re building a wall that temptation can?t break through
Yes, you?re building a wall that?s rain and fire-proof
You?re building a wall that?s pain and liar-proof
You?re building a wall that embraces faith and truth
Yes, you?re building a wall that embraces you?.
Refrain:
But don?t you build that wall so tall, and so wide or one-eyed
That you can?t see the heart that?s waiting on the other side
I am a woman in love with you
Against all reason, rhyme or rule
When I look in the mirror, shameful eyes stare back at me
?Cause you?re building a wall and my frustration can?t break free
You?re building a wall that defaces honesty
You?re building a wall that debases need
You?re building a wall that disgraces indiscriminately
Yes, you?re building a wall that disgraces me?
Refrain:
But don?t you build that wall so tall, or petrified with pride
That you can?t feel the heart that?s breaking on the other side
Bridge:
Your God already knows you?re an angel
Your God already knows I?m a fool
And would your God really send me straight to hell
Just for saying, ?I love you??
We?re only human, in love with different dreams
Against the cold wind, we raise our broken wings
?Cause when we look in the mirror, don?t wanna have to turn away
It gets clearer and clearer, and it will all make sense someday
So I?m building a bridge to take me far away
I?m building a bridge and navigating my feet of clay
I?m building a bridge that?s made of truth and faith
I?m building a bridge to Heaven?s Gate?
Refrain:
?Gonna build that bridge so big, and so strong and so long
That it might, yes it just might be able
To reach over your wall