So To Speak

So To Speak - Sting/Becky Unthank

They're seriously saying it's prolonging me life

If I'll only submit to the surgical knife

But what are the odds on a month or a week

When the betting shop's closing its doors so to speak

When you're tied to a pump and a breathing machine

With their X-rays and probes and their monitor screens

And they'll wake ye up hungry saying "How do ye feel "

And then you're stuffed full of pills and a barium meal

Prolonging me life Now that's some kind of joke

I'd be laughing me head off and I'd probably choke

The spirit's still willing but the rest of me's weak

Now the bets are all off and the prospects look bleak

When you're laid like a piece of old meat on the slab

And they'll cut and they'll slice and they'll poke and they'll jab

And they'll grill ye and burn ye and they'll wish ye good health

With their radium chemo and God knows what else

Well ye can't fault the science though the logic is weak

Is it really an eternal life we should seek

That ship has sailed

That ship has sailed

That ship has already sailed So to speak

Our mission is more than a struggle for breath

For a few extra rounds in a fight to the death

When our mission is love and compassion and grace

It's not a test of endurance or a marathon race

For love is the sabre and love is the shield

Love is the only true power we wield

An eternal love is all ye should seek

That ship will be ready to sail So to speak

I hear what you're saying 'cos I've heard it before

But I'm afraid if I let what is past through my door

How long would he stay a month or a week

When that ship has already sailed so to speak

Should I settle for something that's safe on this Earth

What would it profit me what is it worth

If I lose something precious completely unique

When it's only eternity's love we should seek

For when that ship sails and the course has been set

And the wind's in the offing and the sails have been let

And the hatches are full and the hull doesn't leak

And the ship is all ready to sail So to speak

I'm tired and fading and losing the light

And I've no way to tell if it's day or it's night

Follow your heart it's the harbour ye seek

And this ship is ready to sail

This ship is ready to sail

This ship is ready to sail So to speak