Legend of The Starfish
A vacationing businessman was walking along a
beach when he saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had
been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned.
The boy was walking slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and
tossed a beached starfish back into the ocean. The businessman, hoping to
teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said,
"I have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good
heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are
around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day?
Surely, such an industrious and kindhearted boy such as yourself could find
something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you
are doing is going to make a difference?" The boy looked up at that
man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the
starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It
makes a difference to that one."
~
Anonymous / Oral Traditional
Step
one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
©
2006 – How To
Save A Life – The Fray