TOO LATE FOR PRAYIN'
(Gordon Lightfoot)

As recorded by Gordon Lightfoot 1973


It was only yesterday
When I heard the teacher say
Patiently, one and two make three
We were children, you and me
Let us pray, for the ones they call
The children of today.

Nothin' left but promises
Nothin' much is certain
All we see is want and need across the board
Why thank you lord
We're livin' in the glory of your care.
 
Skies of blue have all turned brown
To the sound of sighin'
Lord abide, let us stem the tide
Of broken dreams
Sometimes you seem to tell us
It's too late for prayin'.

See the ocean wild and blue
Think of all that's in her
She will not surrender to the likes of us
But then she must
They tell us, wise men tell us, it's too late.

For each child with eyes that smile
There'll be ten more cryin'
Lord abide, let us stem the time
Of helplessness
But then I guess we're livin'
Is it too late for tryin'.

Nothin' here but grains of sand
Nothin' much worth savin'
Guess we've all got problems of our own to bear
And still we share
Tomorrow could get better than today.

To the ones who loved in vain
Will you be beholdin'
Lord abide, let us stem the tide
Of broken dreams
Sometimes you seem to tell us
It's too late for prayin'.



(Transcribed by David Story - February 2013)