Most of the lines of the song start with People need or But. So in the notebook my daughter gave me for Christmas, I made two columns. On one I wrote "People need ... " and the other I wrote "but..." I have reprinted it without permission below. But, I will add that the song was written by Billy Sprague and appears on his 1993 album The Wind and The Wave. I just like how when laid out like this it looks like a list poem. Even when you add the music it really is.
Note: There is a chorus in the middle of the song which also repeats at the end. I will write the chorus at the end and put an * each time the chorus appears in the song.
When Nothing's Sacred
by Billy Sprague
People Need... But...
True love Chase infatuation
A hope Live on short supply
Wisdom Get more education
Forgiveness Settle things eye for eye
Identity Satisfied with titles
A living God Seem content with idols
Destiny Settle for careers*
Faith Place their bets on science
A refuge Stay out in the rain
Each other Rely on self reliance
Christmas Settle for a holiday
Dignity Survive on ego
Truth Will take an alibi
A savior Much prefer a hero
(Most) long for heaven Have settled for the sky*
And the soul remains unsettled and the world a wilderness.
In a time when nothings sacred and souls settle for less.
I really wanted to share a live performance of this song and could not find one of Billy Sprague performing it but did find this video of Gary Hall Peck covering it. I think this is a very good rendition of it.
