Words Fail

by Howard A. Landman

I could go outside and start to count the stars up in the sky
But you know I'd never finish, if I counted till I died
And numbers wouldn't change the way they make me feel inside
Words Fail

I could try to find a formula that weighs what life is worth
Or just say that I'm happy to be living on this earth
But to talk of how my spirit feels at one with death and birth
Words Fail

And if I don't say any more
Don't think I love life less
My tongue falls silent faced with things
That words cannot express

In this world there are some who have, and others who have not
But we're gathered here together to give thanks for what we've got
And we don't have to count it, for it surely is a lot
Words Fail

I could reminisce about our conversation and good meals
Give praise for how we reach for what is right and what is real
But that wouldn't start to cover all the things you make me feel
Words Fail

And if I don't say any more
Don't think I love you less
My tongue falls silent faced with things
That words cannot express
Temelec, Thanksgiving 1997 & San Jose, late November 1997 - January 1998
3rd verse, River Rock, Thanksgiving 2001

Appropriately enough, this song was started after Thanksgiving dinner with my wife's side of the family. But it also was an attempt to write the kind of "goodbye" song that often comes to me just after I've said goodbye to someone. Each of the times I did Cris & Tret's songwriting and performance workshop, I felt terrible joyful pain when it was time to say goodbye to everyone. And both times that turned into a song ("Tumblin'" and "What Do I Mean To You?"), but then the song was too late to be sung to the people it was written for. So I thought, maybe if I started writing the song before the next workshop, I would be able to finish it during the workshop, and sing it to the people it was meant for.

Eventually, though, it finished itself in time to be sung at the River Rock Thanksgiving ceremony in 2001.

Last updated 2001 December 17