Past Lives Follow

I was standing on a beach at an ocean of broken glass
I was building castles from the cinders and the ash
civilizations come and go
to the sound of a howling hound and a tank foaming at the mouth

I searched the record books, the bibliographies
I traced the crooked lines of strange geography
counted every speck of dust, every grain of sand
and when all of my work was through I still could not find you
from your mother's mother to your children's kids
from the birthmark to the burning witch
I was waiting, watching, turning time
I stared the sight right off my eyes

I've seen it all once or maybe twice
I've read the scriptures, taken the advice
I've asked the prophets, asked the crystal ball
I've asked the silhouettes climbing up my wall
from your mother's mother to your children's kids
the birthmark to the burning witch
I was waiting, watching, counting time
I stared the sight right off my eyes
All the memories you beg to forget like black coals filling up your head
Throw them in a trashcan light a match
Turn the corner don't look back

I was standing on a beach at an ocean of broken glass
I was building castles from the cinders and the ash
civilizations come and go