HURRICANE PHIL

When you build your house and the ground starts to quake

foundation dried then concrete cracks and shakes

like god won’t let a single brick be placed 

without shaking and taking two others away

like the restless railroad tracks that throw your train

after chugging and charging up the mountain all day

when you’re feelin’ so exhausted about the way

it seems life’s only tragedy after tragedy

cause the storms and floods will rage and roll

when you build that house which is your soul

whether dead comrade, dead kid, or even dead wife

well that, my dear brother, is the rhythm of life

whether in jail or at war or out on the street, 

build on all the challenges and chapters that greet

you. don’t stop building your house no matter why

you build that house of your soul up to the sky

when you’re building your house and yet it starts to fall

when you try to hold it together and give it your all

you build it with metal and steel, cinders and bricks but still

in rushes winds and waters of Hurricane Phil

you rebuild again but the quake and shake 

and the Phoenix fire burns your house and takes

it but you don’t stop building no matter why

build your house new until you reach the sky

but you don’t stop building no matter how

build yourself new, brother, and don’t stop now

so just build, just build, build 

so just build, just build, build

so then you finish framin’ it up

and relax with a smoke and a coffee cup

and ya standin’ back feelin all proud

you even let a small sigh sneak out your mouth

finally, your house is taking shape

and you, yourself, are feelin pretty great

despite all of the damage in the past

you, good sir, have built a house to last

then comes rumbles and smoke and you choke until

then comes gusts and fire and you’re tired still

then comes category five Hurricane Phil

and down now falls your house, your work is nil

standing in the rubble you cry, and you wonder why

what’s the point of thunder in the sky?

sitting on wreckage of hopes once high and sigh

you whisper defeat no more hope to try

when you’re building your house and yet it starts to fall

when you try to hold it together and give it your all

you build it with metal and steel, cinders and bricks but still

in rushes winds and waters of Hurricane Phil

you rebuild again but the quake and shake 

and the Phoenix fire burns your house and takes

it but you don’t stop building no matter why

build your house new until you reach the sky

but you don’t stop building no matter how

build yourself new, brother, and don’t stop now

so just build, just build, build

so just build, just build, build

kicking remains and wreckage of prospects too

the house may have fallen down but not the you

so wipe those eyes and reach down and pick up tools

rebuild that house of your soul better and new

it’s your soul, brother, tell me, what else ya gonna do?

just curl up in a ball and let those tears spew?

that’s fine for a time but you know that soon

you’ll have to change that sick, sad, god awful tune

Go head, and petition god and ask her why

go head, and wallow in your tears and scream and cry

but then eventually you know that you must try 

to dust yourself off, and get back up and trust that thy

wisdom will in fact come from this hardship won

and that you’ll be stronger when the storm is done

wisdom doesn’t come from blue skies and sun

no, thunder and lightning, they temper you, son

I’ll tell ya brother, gotta build come what may

building to keep those idle time demons at bay

cause I’ll tell ya brother, you don’t build today

well I’ll guarantee you won’t make it any other way

yes, fires touch close when you build your house

so you lost your job then you lost your spouse

yes, waters touch close when you build your house

so you lost your wealth then you lost your health

when you’re building your house and yet it starts to fall

when you try to hold it together and give it your all

you build it with metal and steel, cinders and bricks but still

in rushes winds and waters of Hurricane Phil

you rebuild again but the quake and shake 

and the Phoenix fire burns your house and takes

it but you don’t stop building no matter why

build your house new until you reach the sky

but you don’t stop building no matter how

build yourself new, brother, and don’t stop now

so just build, just build, build, build

so just build, just build, build, build

so just build, just build, build, build

so just build, just build, build, build