Toiling

I’m king of the present
So can you remind me
Just how long has it been
Since I last saw you
I couldn’t afford to
Keep checking in

I know it doesn’t make sense
To blank the great omniscient
My diary got so dog-eared
I just couldn’t seem to train it
And in the faded pages
I found the great adventure
Waiting patient for the taking
I just couldn’t seem to claim it

Toiling away
I didn’t notice the heat from the rays
That drove me down into a grave
Making mistakes
Keeping my head down so long that I strayed
I guess I was just playing it safe
Playing it safe

Will you always ignore my efforts to be important?
I cannot lie or pretend
I thought I held all the keys until the door slammed behind me
Caught once again

Don’t let me get away with it
I felt the pinch
I’ll pay for it
I’ve been here countless times and I don’t like the way I’m comforted
Quitting is easy
Surrender is hard
But signing all my rights to you was the best decision I ever had

Toiling away
I didn’t notice the heat from the rays
That drove me down into a grave
Making mistakes
Keeping my head down so long that I strayed
I guess I was just playing it safe
Playing it safe

But now
I’ll find your face in a crowd
Amongst the peasants and punters
I’m gonna stop looking down

So
I’ll find you walking the fields
Amongst the fellas and fathers
But to their tradecraft they kneel
Too distracted to feel

In this progressive mirage
Just like a pestle and mortar
All their work turns to dust
And we’re all left in the mud

I’ll find your face in a crowd
I won’t be too blind to see it
I’ve gotta stop looking down
I’ve gotta stop looking down