Shadows of Men Songtext

I ride the subway at a quarter past five
and I look back through the window as I leave
this might be a purgatory, of sorts
steel serpents of the underground regime
lives trapped inside a frame
how to get out-
the constant sea that wore us down with every workday
"nothing risked is nothing gained," they say
a nothing town
the constant sea that weathered grand ambition away

we inherit the wealths and the debts of our fathers
and claim ancient rites that had us bound from progress
well, we'd take it all in hand
as if the clay of the earth had all been damned

we'd set off to the west as if the hounds were behind us
but the sun always rose in the east to remind us
that though light's born of darkness we are still the shadows of men

between moments of greatness
black nights entertained us
with ghosts of rotten lovers in our beds
worn prospect and purpose
a pennance well worth it
and if fortune misguides our arrows
we are still the shadows of men