On the Edge of a Cliff - The Streets

«I'm really okay, thanks, there’s nothing to witness»

I said as I looked back from the edge of the cliff

The old man looking down lent over the ridge

Struck with a grin as if a blessing had hit him

I slumped on the jut of the cliff

«Just leave me alone, this is none of your business»

«I will, said the old man, «but just one thing»

And what he said was so lovely it stunned me

He said, «I lay right there once at the edge of the rock

I was ready to jump, I was ever so lost

But this gentleman stopped and said something I never forgot»

For billions of years since the outset of time

Every single one of your ancestors survived

Every single person on your mum and dad’s side

Successfully looked after and passed on to you life

What are the chances of that like?

It comes to me once in a while

And everywhere I tell folk, it gets the best smile

And then the old man walked away and out of sight

Till the sound of him hiking turned to the sound of silence

I just froze in a profound surprise

And from down on my pride, I found a smile to my eyes

And for many days again, I’ve been passing the same cliff

And on many occasions, I’d chance on the same thing

Laying in the moss in the same way I was

Would be another man looking like he needed a change of luck

So I’d say, «I lay right there once at the edge of the rock

I was ready to jump, I was ever so lost

But this gentleman stopped and said something I never forgot»

For billions of years since the outset of time

Every single one of your ancestors survived

Every single person on your mum and dad’s side

Successfully looked after and passed on to you life

What are the chances of that like?

It comes to me once in a while

And everywhere I tell folk, it gets the best smile

For billions of years since the outset of time

Every single one of your ancestors survived

Every single person on your mum and dad’s side

Successfully looked after and passed on to you life

What are the chances of that like?

It comes to me once in a while

And everywhere I tell folk, it gets the best smile