Song Description

This one is definitely far more ephemeral than linear, in that it is focusing on the feelings and the imagery at the cost of not clearly telling the story...making the listener have to work to figure out what the hell is really going on. Here's the story: a religious couple, closely tied to their church and frequently volunteering at their church, have a young daughter who, tragically contracts a fatal disease and dies. The story is not "told" but is rather "felt" by the father, who's so crushed in his grief that it results in destroying both his relationship with his wife and his church and his reverend. He views his reverend's handling of the tragedy, and in particular, how he conducts himself during his daughter's funeral as simply a "dance" around the reality of what has happened. It's now Halloween and his wife is volunteering her time to help decorate outside the church and its community meeting space with pumpkins, etc. The father can stand it no more. He's next to his wife, he starts to stand up to walk away and leave. He hasn't been communicating his feelings with his wife. His wife grabs his sleeve and begs him to open up to her. His feeling is that she's not prepared to handle the truth ("You can't handle the truth").

Lyrics

Give Me Truth
(formerly called The Reverend's Dance, Take 3)
© 2015 Starburst

(Verse 1: male vocal)
As she lingered in the churchyard at the dusk of Halloween
Reminiscing fading memories of the promises she'd seen
Somewhat shaky and uncertain, I stood up, prepared to go
But she grabbed my sleeve and motioned that she really had to know

(chorus: female vocal)
Lead vocal: Give me truth!
Female Background: I can bear it, I have strength, I need to know
Lead vocal: I need truth!
Female Background: I'll still love you, though you can't believe it's so
Lead vocal: Don't you hold back!
Female Background: We're forever here as one, I'm right here by your side
Lead vocal: Give me truth!
Background: Stay here with me, don't you run away and hide

(Verse 2: male vocal)
I'll be honest if you let me but the fever's taken hold
I can hardly stand the pain it's as if I'm all alone
Walk a ring around this fire, genuflect before we dance
I'm afraid I've lost the courage, is this all just happenstance?

(chorus: female vocal)
Lead vocal: Give me truth!
Female Background: I can bear it, I have strength, I need to know
Lead vocal: I need truth!
Female Background: I'll still love you, though you can't believe it's so
Lead vocal: Don't you hold back!
Female Background: We're forever here as one, I'm right here by your side
Lead vocal: Give me truth!
Background: Stay here with me, don't you run away and hide

(Bridge - sung by both male and female)
There were nights we lived together through the worst the pain would bring
While our very special angel tried to fly on broken wings
She was sent from God in Heaven she was purity and spice
Now something deep inside of us can never be quite right

(chorus: female vocal)
Lead vocal: Give me truth!
Female Background: I can bear it, I have strength, I need to know
Lead vocal: I need truth!
Female Background: I'll still love you, though you can't believe it's so
Lead vocal: Don't you hold back!
Female Background: We're forever here as one, I'm right here by your side
Lead vocal: Give me truth!
Background: Stay here with me, don't you run away and hide

Optional Epilogue
The Reverend does his dance and the brethren sing their hymns
Tiny casket at the altar means the end of everything
I cannot be here with you, my life does not exist
With my sleeve held in her hand I bent down and gave a kiss