My Radio Tuned To The Voice Of A Star

Paul Simon: The Cool, Cool River

moves like a fist
through the traffic
anger and no one can heal it
shoves a little bump
into the momentum
it's just a little lump
but you feel it
in the creases
and the shadows
with a rattling deep emotion
the cool, cool river
sweeps the wild, wide ocean

yes boss
the government handshake
yes boss
the crusher of language
yes boss
mr. stillwater
the face at the edge
of the banquet

the cool river
the cool, the cool river

i believe in the future
i may live in my car
my radio tuned to
the voice of a star
song dogs barking
at the break of dawn
lightning pushes the edge
of a thunderstorm
and these old hopes and fears
still at my side

anger and no one can heal it
slides through
the metal detector
lives like a mole in a motel
a slide in a slide projector
the cool, cool river
sweeps the wild, wide ocean
the rage of love turns inward

to prayers of devotion
and these prayers are
the constant road
across the wilderness
these prayers are
these prayers are
the memory of god
the memory of god

and i believe in the future
we shall suffer no more
maybe not in my lifetime
but in yours i feel sure
song dogs barking
at the break of dawn
lightning pushes the edges
of a thunderstorm
and these streets
quiet as a sleeping army
send their battered dreams
to heaven to heaven
for the mother's restless son

who is a witness to
who is a warrior
who denies his urge
to break and run
who says: hard times?
i'm used to them
the speeding planet burns
i'm used to that
my life's so common
it disappears
and sometimes even music
cannot substitute for tears


--paul simon
the cool, cool river