The Chris Chandler Show

Meek Rising / Don’t Go Back to Sleep
Chris Chandler / Paul Benoit

Can you hear the harmonies, don’t go back to sleep.

In the “before times,”

I like it when your next to me, Don’t go back to sleep.

we sat upon our couches,

There were angels on the radio

we hit the TV remote

and devils in the dawn

and the little white dot appeared in the static

The sun was singing loudly

and from its static

but i don’t know the song

the television itself calmly commanded:

Don’t go back to sleep.

“Buy a Toyota.”

But today, the TV speaks in a somber tone:

The master knows when every sparrow falls

“In these tying times,"

Don’t go back to sleep

"Buy a Toyota.”

You will answer when he calls Don’t go back to sleep

I say, Celebrate these trying times.

Memories caught in the wire, the hounds let loose your mad desire

Celebrate how we can come together.

So much to hold No more to give away

Blessed are the meek

We were drowsy everyday

for they shall inherit the earth.

Don’t Go back to sleep

However,

I do not wish to inherit the earth,
I am not meek.
but I do want to help create
an Earth worth
inheriting.

Light a lamp talk to your shadow Don’t go back to sleep

The illiterate quote the ignorant

It’s no ordinary battle

in an effort to mask

Don’t go back to sleep

the refusal to wear a mask
as rugged individualism.

Lost again in the seas depth

and the greater good as
“flock mentality.”

We are all sailing on a sinking ship

The very same ones
that long for herd immunity

Our voyage ended in a stand.

are the very same ones
that deride us as sheep.

never come back again.

and to that, I say,
Be a shepherd.

Don’t go back to sleep

We need shepherds.

We must be strong enough to stand alone,
yet wise enough to stand together.

We can not fly unless we first stand.
and when we all stand together
we realize that the lifting power
of many wings
can achieve
twice the distance
of any single bird flying alone.

When the bird in front tires
he flies to the back so that he may rest
in the draft of the others.

It is in deed YOUR attitude, that determines OUR altitude, and our altitude is determined by,
the attitude of those we fly with.

Fly with me?

It is no coincidence
that both sheep and birds
travel as a flock.

Today,
I think of the essential workers...
as the essential members of our flock.

Sheep and bird.
both flying point AND folding into the flock.

Some get plenty of praise...
first responders, cops, nurses, firefighters,
they have good salaries,
they have pensions.
they have a voice... that is being heard

We honor them.
Often.
and loudly,
but what about the others?

(in these tying times)
Let us hear them.

The truck drivers,
the meat packers, the pet food canners.
They are our saviors.

Step lightly over sorrow Don’t go back to sleep

Saved are the sanitation workers
and online school teachers,

It might visit you tomorrow

Precious are the
Postal workers.

Don’t go back to sleep

Divine the delivery drivers,
for they are glorious,
and there could be no glory without them.

Love mercy and southing grace

Glorious are the garbage workers,

will lift you to a higher place

the tik-tok go go girls,

Trying to be what you’ll never be

and grocery store stockers

is like arguing with electricity

you are hollowed
and for you I shout

Don’t go back to sleep

Hallelujah!

Beautiful are the the beverage bottlers,

Absolved are the auto mechanics
and
Christened, the computer repair people,
for you are transcendent.

Transcendent
are the tasks of the lowest of the low magnified by the looking glass of ten thousand eye balls that see at once.

(in these tying times),
The strength of the whole is defined by the individual...
the strength of the individual is created by the whole.

Holy

Holy are the highway maintenance men.

Holy are the Hoi Polloi

Holy are the vandals for vigilance.

Holy are those that Howl for humanity.

Holy are the riffraff of righteousness,

Holy are the wretched rank-and-file rabble
yearning to be roused.

Hallowed are the handy men...

Bodacious are the Bodega attendants,

Forever, the farmers and Pharmacists.

Luscious are the liquor store lackeys (no pun intended,)

magnificent the marijuana dispensaries

perfect, the protestors,
the afore mentioned vandals for vigilance
they are
after all -
essential,

I’m ok with the mystery

as they face the teargas of oppression

in an effort to burn down

Don’t go back to sleep

the last vestiges of
“the before times.”

The different ways it feels to me

so that the meek shall rise

Don’t go back to sleep

from the ashes of the past,

So many voice from the sea

to inherit a world

Don’t go back to sleep

we have all helped make

And all the unplaced melodies

worthy of inheriting.

Don’t go back to sleep