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Writing on the Wall

by Bart Roderick

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about

All instruments and vocals by Bart Roderick. Rough recording of a track to be included on upcoming album.

lyrics

I WAS BAPTISED IN THE RAIN OF SEATTLE WHERE EVERYTHING IS MOSSY AND WET
MOTHER WAS A HISTORY MAJOR, DADDY WAS A NAVY VET
POST-WAR TRUE BELIVERS – ADLAI STEVENSON
THEY THOUGHT THE UNION WOULD LAST FOREVER, BUT IT WAS OVER BEFORE IT BEGAN

THE PIN WITH THE HOLE IN THE SOLE OF THE SHOE
SINGING FOR THE ILWU,
THEY KNEW IT WAS RIGHT, THEY KNEW IT WAS TRUE,

TOO MANY DAYS SHE COULDN’T PULL IT TOGETHER,
TOO MANY ALABIS HE COULDN’T RECALL
AND THE KIDS WERE CLIMBING ON THE ROOFTOPS
AND WE WERE WRITING ON THE WALL, WRITING ON THE WALL.

THE WRITING ON THE WALL –THE WRITING ON THE WALL.
EVEN THEN I COULD SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

MAMA GRABBED THE KIDS, HEADING EASTWARD
TO A LAND OF DESERT AND SNOW
BUILD BACK A LIFE FROM THE TATTERS
BUT I NEVER REALLY WANTED TO GO.
STUCK BETWEEN AN ACID-TONGUED FATHER, AND A FAMILY WHERE I DIDN’T FIT IN.
SURROUNDED BY THE FARMBOYS
PICKING FIGHTS THAT I NEVER COULD WIN

SO I RAN DOWN TO SAN FRANSISCO HIP-DEEP IN THE SUMMER OF LOVE
IT CAME AT ME LIKE A TSUNAMI THAT I NEVER COULD RISE ABOVE
BUT THEY’D MADE UP A LIE IN THE TONKIN THAT SENT THE BOYS TO VIET NAM
I SPENT 3 YEARS IN THE NORTH COUNTRY THEN DODGING LETTERS FROM UNCLE SAM
THE WRITING ON THE WALL –THE WRITING ON THE WALL.
I CAN STILL SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

I NEVER EVER COULD GET PAST IT. THE DEMONS KEEP BITING AT MY HEELS
DON’T CARE IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT, DON’T CARE IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW IT FEELS.
SO MANY FRIENDS FADE AWAY IN THE DISTANCE, SO MANY THINGS GET LOST IN THE FALL.
BUT I’M STILL HERE IN THIS ROOM HERE SITTING AND STARING AT THE WALL

THE WRITING ON THE WALL –THE WRITING ON THE WALL.
I CAN STILL SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

credits

released March 29, 2020

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Bart Roderick image

Bart Roderick Selah, Washington

Bart has recorded and performed all over: with Mick Jagger's Super Heavy ("Beautiful People"), The Long Winters, ("Cinnamon", "New Girl", "Prom Night at Hater High", "Hindsight"), Peter Gabriel, Smokey Robinson and many others. He received his Masters in Music Central Washington University. Roderick has taught public school music for 27 years. ... more

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