Lyrics

When the Smoke Clears

So much for illusions and mythology
They don?t explain away the sting
But I can?t fight what appears to be my biology
My brain sends signals down my spine
They convince me to sing another line
And it doesn?t matter how hard I try everything seems empty

But there?s gotta be something real
Worth pretending
And there?s gotta be something here
Worth defending

When reason came it had a gun
Killed our blankets one by one
Left us naked; Left our insecurities to take us
In the wake of terror showed us things
We didn?t ever want to see
But when the smoke cleared we were free.

?So what?s my place in the universe??
Said the man out loud with immense averse
As he tried to understand the curse that seems so haunting
The heavens looked so far away
The stars shined but they didn?t seem to say
That we were part of some eternal play that took designing

But there?s gotta be someone here
Worth forgiving
And there?s gotta be some appeal
Worth remembering

In one fell swoop we had to choose
Between security and truth
Left us shaking; Left our tired, withered bodies breaking
The opposition kicked and screamed
Said our souls could not be redeemed
But when the smoke cleared we were free

I?ll take what slight assurance came
Over whistled Dixie any day
Keeps me singing; Keep me strong when I go face the demons
And though I?d take comfort in belief
I?d rather be certain than weak
?Cause when the smoke clears, I?ll be free