“Democracy won’t work (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) if we’re asleep (Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up)
That kind of freedom is a vigil you must keep – Yeah, you’ve gotta dig deep”

In his gentle but no nonsense way, Crowell explores the notion that we can’t change the past, which means that we can only focus on the present and what we can do to make it better.

Song by Rodney Crowell ‧ 2005

WE CAN’T TURN BACK

It’s in the water, it’s in the wind
It’s where you’re going, it’s where you’ve been
It’s what you’re doing, what you don’t
It’s what you’re willing and what you won’t
A snow capped mountain, a moonlit path
An ice-cold shower, a long hot bath
It’s something waiting for you just a little farther down the line

You can’t turn back now
You can’t turn back now
It’s too late to turn back now

It’s young and reckless, it’s old and gray
It’s here tomorrow and gone today
It’s rich and famous, dark and dull
Its Nostradamus meets Jethro Tull
It knows your weakness, it feels your strength
It jangle-jingles, clacks and clinks
It’s ever present, but it’s also like there’s nothing there at all

You can’t turn back now
You can’t turn back now
It’s too late to turn back now

Democracy won’t work (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) if we’re asleep
(Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up)
That kind of freedom is a vigil you must keep
Yeah, you’ve gotta dig deep

It’s a wicked world, and we’re all in it
But that could change in a New York minute
Holy terror and toxic gas ain’t got nothing on the leaves of grass
So pray for peace until you’re hoarse
And maybe fear will run its course
May God forgive us our insanity, and we’ll keep pressing on

You can’t turn back now
You can’t turn back now
It’s too late to turn back now
It’s too late to turn back now