written winter 2002
i sat alone just looking back
trying to hold to what i had
this picture playing in my mind
slipping slowly, fading time
i wasn't here, no longer there
of what was left, i did not care
but then you pulled me from my head
i closed my eyes, but then you said...
you cannot forget the past
but you can't spend your life remembering
'cause yesterday has come and gone
forever past, you must go on
now come with me, so much to see
the day is short, but the night is long
so i stood up and turned away
to let old scenes begin to fade
and Now i'm Here to face the wind
and Here a brand new Now begins
not for tomorrow can i live
nor to the past my thoughts now give
so out to Here and Now we go
and always still this much i know...
i will not forget the past
but i won't spend my life remembering
'cause yesterday has come and gone
forever past, i must go on
the world is wide, so much to do
the day is done, but the night is young
the past is gone, the future's yet to come
we must go on
the past is gone, the future's yet to come
and all that's left is Here and Now
i find myself just looking back
from time to time, at what i had
but not to hold to what it was
all that matters is what is
turn back around and there you stand
holding out to me your hand
so as to me someone once did
i pass along the words once said
do not forget the past
just don't spend your life remembering
'cause yesterday has come and gone
forever past, we must go on
so come with me, so much to see
the day is short, but the night is long
the world awaits, and calls us out
to find no more to wish about
so come with me, so much to be
the day is past, but the night is now
about this song:
This was my first attempt to let go of the past (see The Last Road, Memory, Rain Dance) and embrace the present, future, etc. It feels really forced, probably because it really wasn't true at the time that I wrote it. And, in all honesty, it was completely forced. So even though I think that, objectively speaking, it's a good song; and even though many have really liked it; I don't like it that much, because it still feels forced to me.
