The Stranger

I once met this stranger who bore the tattooed tears
Always crying without choice for the rest of his years
He is sorrowing man's sins for the rest of eternity
Taking part in the everlasting slow dance with destiny
These permanent tears forever showing man's emotion
Never failing to fall like the crashing waves of the ocean

When I came upon this stranger all he said was change
I turned around to ponder this question asked so strange
This man's words and selfless act made me ponder about choice
Do we choose our words? Is what we hear our own voice?
Because I know if I had a choice I'd quit writing these songs
I wouldn't agree with the rights and would stop correcting all the wrongs
and I wouldn't run the race without a 3 hour lead
and I would never wipe the tears that fall for all who bleed
I'd drop all old habits and do whatever I please
I'd unclasp the hands and get up off my knees
I'd listen to my own voice and not what others say
And I'd wait again for the man who is crying everyday

I once met this stranger who bore the tattooed tears
Always crying without choice for the rest of his years
He is sorrowing man's sins for the rest of eternity
Taking part in the everlasting slow dance with destiny
These permanent tears forever showing man's emotion
Never failing to fall like the crashing waves of the ocean

The memory of this man and his acceptance of choice
Kind of makes me choke up and for my eyes to become moist
It gets me to thinking of how many choices we are granted
How some are up to us and the others have been implanted
Because I know without choice I wouldn't do what I want
I wouldn't feel the hate that compels me to taunt
And I wouldn't have to hide behind all of my convictions
And if I didn't want to I wouldn't have to share any life depictions
I could hang put with myself and get wasted off bacardi
I could begin making the list of guests for my surprise birthday party
I would forget every acquaintance except for the one that remember me
I would toy with dreams but still never f**k with a memory
Because I once had a memory...

It was about that same stranger who bore the tattooed tears
Always crying without choice for the rest of his years
He is sorrowing man's sins for the rest of eternity
Taking part in the everlasting slow dance with destiny
Those permanent tears forever showing man's emotion
Never failing to fall like the crashing waves of the ocean
Those permanent tears forever showing man's emotion
Never failing to fall like the crashing waves of the ocean

I once had a memory
I once had a memory
I once had a memory...