My pain is self-chosen
At least, so the prophet says
I could either burn
Or cut off my pride, and buy some time
A head full of lies is the weight, tied to my waist
The River of Deceit pulls down, ohh
The only direction we flow is down
My pain is self-chosen
At least I believe it to be
I could either drown
Or pull off my skin and swim to shore
Now I can grow a beautiful shell for all to see
The River of Deceit pulls down,
The only direction we flow is down
I remember the first time I ever heard this song. It was March 16, 1995. I was sitting in my bedroom in a rocking chair and that first verse hit me like a ton of bricks. It was such a prophetic line, so obvious - yet up until that point something that I had never considered.
Since then that thought has popped back into my brain from time to time. Then recently I was having a discussion with someone who used those same words. Words that are very true.
Sgt. Dawn Davis, court reporter noncommissioned officer in charge, Staff Judge Advocate, Special Troops Battalion, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, looks through a window while clearing a room during sergeant?s time training at the Forward Operating Base on Panzer Kaserne Nov. 13. (Photo by Sgt. Fay Conroy, 21st TSC).
Staff Sgt. Anthony Cardona, noncommissioned officer in charge of the munitions department of supply operations and Pfc. Michael Trischler, a mechanic, Special Troops Battalion 21st Theater Sustainment Command kick open a door at the Forward Operating Base on Panzer Kaserne Nov. 13. The unit conducted sergeant?s time training at the FOB to learn how to conduct military operations on urbanized terrain. (Photo by Sgt. Fay Conroy, 21st TSC).
