(Soft piano melody swelling with a mournful violin)
I wake up before the sun, the streets are still dark
Just a man, a shadow moving, chasing a spark
Oh, the heavy burden, the weight of the dream
When nothing is quite as golden as it seems
I lace my boots, the leather worn and thin
Another day to fight where I don’t even win
My children sleeping, their faces pure and bright
I pray they never see the struggle of the night
I walk the dusty roads, the cement burns my feet
Trying to make a way, trying to make the ends meet
But the prices rise like fire against the sky
And every honest effort just makes me want to cry
Oh, heaven hear my cry, see the sweat upon my brow
I’m giving all I have, but tell me, where is the harvest now?
The daily hustle leaves my spirit feeling dry
But I lift my head, I’m reaching for a softer sky
Yes, I’m building for the ones I love the most
Even when I’m shaking like a lonely ghost
I carry the heavy bag, the load upon my back
Tracing every single coin, trying to stay on track
They talk about the gold, they talk about the fame
But they don’t know the hunger, they don’t know my name
I’m a father, I’m a soldier in a quiet war
Facing every challenge that walks inside my door
Is it worth the sacrifice? Is it worth the pain?
Standing in the middle of the heavy falling rain?
Oh, heaven hear my cry, see the sweat upon my brow
I’m giving all I have, but tell me, where is the harvest now?
The daily hustle leaves my spirit feeling dry
But I lift my head, I’m reaching for a softer sky
Yes, I’m building for the ones I love the most
Even when I’m shaking like a lonely ghost
Though the mountain seems too high to ever climb
I’m trusting in the rhythm and the flow of time
My hands are tired, but my heart is beating loud
Finding my way through the thickest of the cloud
I see a glimmer, a promise in the grey
Tomorrow might be brighter, a different kind of day
Oh, heaven hear my cry, see the sweat upon my brow
I’m giving all I have, but tell me, where is the harvest now?
The daily hustle leaves my spirit feeling dry
But I lift my head, I’m reaching for a softer sky
Yes, I’m building for the ones I love the most
Even when I’m shaking like a lonely ghost
I keep on pushing, I keep on rising
For the little ones, for the tomorrow rising
Even when it feels like nothing at all
I will stand, I will not fall
(Piano fades into the sound of a distant violin)
Yeah, for them, I stand.
Still standing.