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The Fruits Of Their Labours

by The Apple Zed

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1.
The last of the truly great explorers I’ve seen all that the world has to show me But now, the dream grows cold My life needs a new goal And I feel something that’s calling me deep in my soul I feel the pull of the engine, and I hear the clack of the wheels I see the train as it flows over miles of steel I could be a truly great conductor Make sure that the trains run on time I’ve wandered the world. Now, my path lies before me In contoured, parallel lines
2.
"Johnny Boy's A Hero," all my hometown papers read I was frightened all that fuss would go straight to my head Never wanted guts or glory. I had always said, "Let me serve my country unbeknownst" Gave it time and sure enough, my neighbors grew distracted By the trials and tribulations normalcy reenacted All I dwelled upon was one small victory exacted I made the Reaper tremble in his bones Did I stare Death down? I damn well emptied out his pockets Told him where to stick that scythe, and spat in his eye sockets To this day, I'm even-keeled while his contempt skyrockets That's the only victory I craved Many years have gone, and I've grown older all the while Proud to blend into a crowd, I'm merely rank and file To maintain my namelessness, I'll go the extra mile And from death my spirit will be saved Did I stare Death down? Didn't I? Can't I? Was it just a wet dream? So much for swimming upstream Has he gotten the best of me? Did I stare Death down? Didn't I? Can't I? I damn well stood my ground, relentless No shame in that. I won't repent this There must be some way to prevent this The doctor says it's mostly hopeless Lord, how can this be? Dear God, why me? "Johnny Boy's A Hero," all my hometown papers read Now my hometown papers all will read that Johnny's dead
3.
Lighting flashes as the storm gathers round. I know the tracks will be slick Can’t let the train get out of control; I gotta think quick See the red lights burning, and I fly right by them, screaming engine tempting fate Passengers depending on me - can’t be late! Off in the distance, a shadowy form emerges from out of the rain Blinded by the storm, oblivious to the oncoming train I hit the brakes, and they screech a futile song into the night sky I swear I see engine number 144 reflected in terrified eyes And so an innocent dies “Trial of the century!” screams the newsman on TV Justice turned to vengeance in The People vs. Me Jury turns and glares with hatred when they see the widow cry I know the truth can’t set me free, and so I lie I swear I never saw the shadowy form emerging from out of the rain I was blinded by the storm and I couldn’t stop the train If I could go back and change things I would, but there’s no way to turn back time This railway of life is a one-way express, from birth to the end of the line He reached his, and someday I’ll reach mine My heart’s pounding, and I hope that no one sees I’m drenched in sweat I told my tale, tried to stay outta jail, but I’m not safe yet The time has come to deliberate. I watch the jury as they stand And file from the courtroom with my future in their hands "We the jury find that you are guilty to the core Of gross incompetence and vile murder. Furthermore, Your lies bespeak remorselessness beyond all absolution And so, we sentence you to death by electrocution"
4.
Guess it's finally time to go Greet the Reaper, my old foe Wish him well, stand at his side Take his victory in stride He's been gracious in defeat Humoring such stark conceit It should be time to meet my fate Yet in mercy he abates How shall I use the clemency the Reaper gives? What shall I do with only two more weeks to live? Have I regrets or wanderlust to gratify? How could I forget those days? A young man, stationed overseas Came upon a small cafe, its perfume wafting in the breeze He walked inside and took a seat. The waitress smiled and cocked her head He craved a pastry, rich and sweet. Her blue eyes glistened and she said, "Brave soldier, I know just the thing you're hungry for And I guarantee you'll hunger for it evermore But when you do, remember even the smallest slice will satisfy you" Placed before me was a beacon Of golden light. My hunger weakened Before I even had to take a bite Guess it's finally time to go and find the land I left behind Greet the Reaper, my old foe, and thank my stars he is so kind Wish him well, stand at his side, soon as I've ordered my affairs Take his victory in stride, once I've managed to ensnare That Golden Apple pie I will taste its flesh again. I will taste its crust again I will taste it one more time before I --
5.
“The time has come,” the warden said, “for tomorrow, you will die So choose your last meal. We’ll sauté anything before you fry” I’d like a pizza, extra cheese, a good Merlot, and for dessert The rarest fruit I ever found in all my travels on this earth The Golden Apple I’ll tell you of the quest to find this fruit On which I went and on which you must go How after years of futile pursuit I found a secret place that few men know High atop the slopes of Kilimanjaro There is a cave facing the western sky Its entrance buried underneath the snow And as the rays of evening sun go by The cave is lit with an unearthly glow And on the walls, strange maps appear That make the journey’s next step clear And so I go! Follow the map to a Small island in the South Pacific Sea And down below, there is a labyrinth Beneath the waves. Oh, how it calls to me Hold my breath and start to swim And let the current pull me in Turning left and turning right Guided by an eerie light ‘Til at last I reach the island's core And surface in a blue lagoon And all around me Trees of Golden Apples bloom
6.
All my possessions finally behind me There's nothing left that's tying me down The clicking of the train tracks reminds me Of that tiny, bustling town and its people And how they did welcome our ranks And the hissing of the engine's a godsend Reminiscent of the town's re-emergence When it dusted off the remnants of bloodshed And started steaming back into a resurgence Its camaraderie and industry besting those bombers and tanks Not to mention the pie, that succulent dish Why has it taken this long to recall my one wish? That waitress clearly understood the treasure she served And then, she joined me for another slice. This surprised me I started salivating for her beauty and charm Blues of soft eyes and reds of flowing hair mesmerized me Her gentle manner overwhelming, she did disarm my defenses She offered her company. I could only offer thanks On the ship home, what should I receive But a letter from my wife, who decided to leave? Was this a turn of events I deserved? How I do wish I'd acted on this infatuation With this young woman in this lovely oceanfront town I never ventured back amidst my humiliation Cowardice turning any chance of happiness down Click of tracks gives way to cracks of thunder Storm derails my happy trails asunder Though I crash into a splashing ocean I'll swim to shore with ever forward motion I know I'll never have another chance at us My coming back was only bound to be in vain I was so foolish not to take a chance on us Only the Golden Apple pie will ease my pain Johnny Boy will not disembark this derailed train
7.
I awake from a dreamless sleep The Golden Apple still rich on my tongue And oh, it tastes just as sweet Here at the end as when I was young The last day I’ll ever see is dawning And I rise to meet my fate I walk with head held high toward the chair I’ve made my peace with what’s in store I know that I have lived as few men dare Just one last horizon to explore The last sun I’ll ever see has risen I’m on time for being late Strap me down Plug me in Let the end begin
8.
Staring down Death in the hell that was war I'd seen no memories, flashbacks, or visions I only saw myself cowering in fear Gasping for breath, seeking only safe shore I glimpse the images one sees before dying As well as myself, suddenly resolute and clear Why give me such a reprieve two weeks out Only to cash in as I thrash about? What of my odyssey? Has it no clout? Have you no honor or shame? You took my parents in the prime of their lives And I never even had the chance to say goodbye You took my best friend, and left me to comfort His devastated, would-be bride Why give me warning when others had none Only to whisk it away and then run? I've no intention of ceding this one Two can play at this war game And I revel at the love I saw firsthand And how it shattered in the face of fates unplanned Now this boy in blue is finally going to take a stand Against your malfeasance, against your malpractice Against your iniquity You overtook them. No chance of appeal Amnesty, pardon, or even last meal But you exempted me from this ordeal Don't you remember? You made this deal. It's not yours to subvert I am entitled to my last dessert Cross me, my friend, and hit the dirt I will not stand aside. This deceit I'll defy Until I taste my Golden Apple pie
9.
Sanctuary on the shore I departed years before Waves are dousing, but the rising sun helps dry me in the dawn Staggering aboard a bus along the road that guided us To a town rebounding from a time of war and pressing on And I marvel at the passing scenery How it's barely changed, as far as I can see All I've done in life is aged. This natural majesty leaves me upstaged Civilization rears its head. There's the marketplace I fled As a foolish youth, never guessing life back home was gone And I marvel at that little, quaint cafe How it's standing, still, with no sign of decay Dare I take a step inside? Hasn't my past fortune died? Suddenly, I'm greeted by a waitress fine and fair And her eyes are sparkling blue, and fiery red's her hair She looks so much like the maiden I did once forswear Have I traveled back in time somehow? Finally, I clear my throat and ask her for a slice Of her Golden Apple pie, no matter what the price And a tear comes to her eyes. She says, sadly, no dice They're all out. She has none for me now Guess it's finally time to go greet the Reaper, my old foe Holding back tears of my own, feeling wretchedly alone I meet her gaze and nod my head "I guess I'll have the cherry pie instead"
10.
I open my eyes, and I rise with no pain This shouldn’t be possible. It can’t be explained away A million volts - it should have cooked me like a side of bacon Yet here I am. Here I have awakened How did this happen to me? How did I survive? There’s no conceivable explanation For how I am alive A heated debate This is unprecedented The warden demands That they throw the switch again! Again I’m unharmed, and their fear begins to show They ask what my secret is, and I tell them I don’t know I’ve circled the globe, and I’ve seen things you could only dream And even I have no clue what this means Why did this happen to me? Why do I still stand? No Golden Apple can change who I am I’m just a mortal man Who lived my life as best I can I look back On the life I’ve lived From blazing a trail To riding the rails To spending my last days in jail And as the current Goes screaming through my brain The meaning of it all Becomes so clear and plain: I guess I’m just A truly bad …conductor

credits

released December 24, 2014

Lyrics/Music:
- Matthew Scarborough :: lyrics (2/4/6/8/9); music (2/4/6/8/9)
- Annika Willow :: lyrics (1/3/5/7/10); music (1/3/5/7/10)

Personnel:
- Eric Michaels :: vocals (1/3/5/7/10)
- Matthew Scarborough :: keyboards; vocals (2/4/6/8/9)
- Jim Strong :: drums
- Annika Willow :: bass; guitar

Post:
- Annika Willow :: mix; master; artwork

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