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Sticks and Stones

from Words, Words, Words by Sam Steffen

/

lyrics

before the panelist of scientists / I stood defending poetry
Reciting words I’d overheard / From a magician doing sorcery
falling short of proof in court / I surrendered to His Majesty
When the jester laughed, I removed his hat / As he praised me my humility
the case dismissed from consciousness / I resumed my daily alchemy
Sticks and stones may break your bones / But words—can change your destiny

As battles raged—a squire’s page / Was charged with this delivery:
To spread the news his side would lose / Without help supplied immediately
On his master’s horse he wound a course / Beyond his country’s boundary
And story goes, he took to prose / And now he writes tales for posterity
What became of the page’s name / To this day remains a mystery
Sticks and stones may break your bones / But words—can alter history

Wind and fog and somewhere, God, / At the beginning of eternity,
commandingly said, “Let there be…” / And each question became a certainty
And there was light to pierce the night / Where darkness filled each cavity
An unseen jaw dispensing law / For motion and for gravity—
And life commenced impermanence / While Death dealt with the converse
Sticks and stones may break your bones / But words—can build a universe

In days of youth I longed for truth / About love especially, I was curious
But what I know now of Love’s know-how / I only learned through inexperience
Foolish tries and compromise / Convinced me love was just a hindrance
More than to win her, what I should prefer / Is to forget or return to ignorance
“He’s mad!” you’ll say, “to feel this way—” / And I’d agree with you, regrettably
Sticks and stones can break your bones / But words—can wound a man, irreparably

I did my best and knew success / It seemed a painless interlude
Between two wars in which the scores / Had been irrevocably misconstrued
Once the ghosts resumed their posts / In the countries of their summoning
I spent what I’d made in the king’s parade / And departed to my homecoming
The bridges crossed, my papers were lost, tho I wouldn’t say I lack them currently
Sticks and stones can break your bones / But words—are like a currency

When asked to play, I said okay / Tho in preparing, I was meticulous
And before I’d sung, the bell had rung / And I’d been announced ridiculous
And for my prize I was ostracized / And was made to sign a covenant
but once I had, I didn’t feel so bad / to entertain them would have been a punishment
And now I’ve chewed on solitude / So long it tastes like venison
Sticks and stones may break your bones / But words—can be a medicine

did a so-called crime and I paid my time / Tho the offense was considered minimal
When I got released, I thought, “I’m free, at least…” / But folks still took me for a criminal
I tried and tried my past to hide / Thought I’d escape from it eventually
But people talked and my way was blocked / Now I’m back at the penitentiary
My freedom earned, my lesson learned / I’ll tell you what now, society—
That sticks and stones may break your bones / But words—shape reality

credits

from Words, Words, Words, released September 29, 2018

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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