Dar Williams - The Great Unknown lyrics

rate me

Words and music by dar williams

Once upon a time there was a nuclear family

And we lived in a family time

And we'd unite in a family way.

And off the ancient mountain

They were splitting every nucleus.

They said 'don't be alarmed

Just don't try this at home.'

And they were the mystery that made the world run

And we had the power'cause they were the sun

And we called them our heroesand the future had come.

They said'look at the light we're giving you

And the darkness we're saving you from.'

Soon they were bringing it into our showroom

And they'd unveil it with it's title

Bring your familybring your family

It's the great unknown.

You can lookbut you can't fathom

It's the great unknown.

I'm no ordinary princessI was born in the cold war

And my team is the rockets.

Go teamit's a dangerous time.

And I dream of the moon and building lunar clone colonies.

And I build my peace with strengththat's the best weapon you've

Got.

OhI am the brainchildI am the mortar

With a plastic trophy and an eating disorder

And vision as big as a great big wall

And they tell me that I'll move forward for the good of us all

And the good of nuclear families all.

And they think I think I am important.

I know I never wasno I wasn't.

No I neverand how could I be?

It's the great unknown.

Now we've built itnow it's ticking

It's the great unknown.

And I am your childrenI am millions.

And I wanted to sell outI wanted to try

But you know the sky got too lowand the ocean got too high.

And I tried to take God into my own hands.

Am I too late? is it over?

Have I sacrificed my family to the great unknown?

There's a war between my conscience and the great unknown.

So I walked out into the gamma fields

Out in mercurynevada.

Where I stood in circle and that circle started to pray.

And the wind at the nuclear test sights floats the data at the radiation.

From the underground testing

Cross the lineyou'll get arrested.

And we came from all over in a silent appeal

As the drill comes down like a presidential seal.

And we stand for the livingand we stand for the dead

And we looked out to see your enemies

And we see that you're looking all at us instead.

And you think I am being disruptive?

But no I'm running homeI'm running

'cause I'm trying to put the atom back together.

It's the great unknown.

I'm just trying to put the atom back together.

It's the great unknown.