The Eternal Haunting

I wish I'd been there and held you close

In the darkening night when you cried out in fright

I wish I'd been near the scent of your fear

In the somber trees which pleaded, "Help, Please"

And shouted my name but to my great shame

The only reply whispered your fear

Whispered your fear

Sympathetic eyes now glaze with reproach

Former acquaintances dare not approach

Worn out and pale with compassion fatigue

A nagging suspicion that we'd been in league

Sly innuendos of fire and smoke

And isn't it strange the wife never spoke?

chorus

I wish that I'd been the man who said, "yes"

And "I love you dear child" and "may God bless"

I wish I'd said, "Stay, you don't need to go"

And not been the man who always said "No"

For now you are gone

The silence echoes

Silence echoes silently, silently

The cameras came but then they went

The benevolent fund was all but spent

A memorial stone declares, "Never Forget!"

Erected to help us not remember

As each year passes by my grip calcifies

And a love once tender withers and dies

I wish that I'd been the man who said, "yes"

And "I love you dear child" and "may God bless"

I wish I'd said, "Stay, you don't need to go"

And not been the man who always said "No"

For now you are gone

The silence echoes

Silence echoes silently, silently

Now I'm stripped naked and stood alone

Sisyphus, pushing my singular stone

Against the grain of common belief

Determined that justice will overcome grief

"Give up", "Move on", the relentless taunting

"I wish, I wish", th' Eternal Haunting

Eternal Haunting

I wish that I'd been the man who said, "yes"

And "I love you dear child" and "may God bless"

I wish I'd said, "Stay, you don't need to go"

And not been the man who always said "No"

For now you are gone

The silence echoes

Silence echoes silently, silently