Don’t Shoot from Control Songs by David Garland

Don’t Shoot

I carry my possessions, and a walking stick

to help me step firmly through the field.
I left my home quickly, I had heard through friends,

this path should take me safely through the field.

—But up above, the planes buzz by.

Looking down below they see a speck—that’s me—

and they draw their conclusions from the scene
they see unfolding like a bold newspaper headline,

like late breaking news that they watch on evening TV.

The headline’s information is that I’m an easy target,

a very easy target for a high flying fighter,

a fighter flying higher than my cry will ever carry,

my cry that simply says, “don’t shoot!”

The planes fly fast,
the planes have their orders.

I look in the direction of my home back there,

and see it changed forever by the planes.

I turn to look ahead, but the path’s not there;

instead I see a mountain that’s in flames.

Single-minded soldiers fight atop the mountain.

One has a sword, the other’s dressed in armor.

If they fight to the death, there won’t be a winner.

Stop that fight, or we will be the losers.

• Alternative
• Control Songs
• David Garland
• Don't Shoot
• Fairlight CMI
• Meredith Monk
• avant-garde
• experimental
• folk
• singer-songwriter
• New York