RACE AMONG THE RUINS
(Gordon Lightfoot)

As recorded Gordon Lightfoot 1976


You think you had the last laugh now
You know this can't be true
Even though the sun shines down upon you now
Some times you must feel blue.

You make the best of each new day
You try not to be sad
Even though the sky falls down upon you
Call it midnight feelin' bad.

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew.

Away we'll go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon.

(bridge)

The road to love is littered
By the bones of other ones
Who by the magic of the moment
Were mysteriously undone.

You try to understand it
But you never seem to find
Any kind of freedom, comin' clean
Is just another state of mind.

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew.

Away we'll go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon.

So take the best of all that's left
You know this cannot last
Even though your mother was your maker
From her apron strings you pass.

Just think about the fool
Who by his virtue can be found
In a most unusual situation
Playin' jester to the clown.

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew.

Away we'll go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon.

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew.

Away we'll go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon.



(Transcribed by David Story - February 2013)