Dust
David Still Lyrics

Four of us were having dinner
Four people were gathered to eat a meal

And I threw down the paper with a curse
I expressed my frustration by throwing a newspaper down

And my wife said complaining doesn't get it
My partner reminded me that complaining will not solve the issue

You got to do something or you can bet it will get worse
She encouraged action to prevent the situation from escalating

And my friend said you've been watching TV too much
One of my friends suggested that I was consuming too much media

And all that hippie hopefulness is just a crutch
They dismissed the idea of optimism as a form of escapism

But if thinkin' that way helps you to make it through the night
I defended my need for hopefulness to cope with the present

Then who am I to say what's wrong and right
I expressed a view of relativism and individual subjectivity

But I think we're passing through here kind of fast
I feel as though time is moving quickly for us

Did you think these tracks in the dust would last
I questioned whether our actions and legacy would persist in a meaningful way

So you think we should just sit here and have another glass of wine
I criticized complacency and inaction in the face of larger societal problems

While the world goes to hell which you know damn well
I emphasized the gravity and severity of the issues we face

It's going to do just down the line
I suggested that the consequences of our actions would be long-term

His lady said I don't know how can you be so sure I mean
One of the women questioned my certainty in predicting future events

Some things seem to get better
She presented a more optimistic counterargument and pointed to hopeful scenarios

You know the hero still saves the damsel in distress
She offers a familiar and classic trope to prove her point

The villain doesn't get her
She suggests that good always triumphs over evil

And I said where have you been living
I responded to her idealism with a critique of her privileged perspective

I mean they're selling death in the streets
I presented a harsh and disturbing reality of the world we currently live in

Cheap
I emphasized the easy access and affordability of the dangerous commodities

And the lying politicians are rolling in the profits they reap
I pointed out the sinister gains some make from exploiting the vulnerable

And he said he's right honey
Another person agreed with me

But I think it's always been that way
He expressed a belief that such heinous acts were not a new phenomenon

And he smiled kind of patiently
He reacted to my passionate response with a sense of calm and understanding

And I knew he was going to say
I sensed what his response would be

I think we're passing through here kind of fast
He reiterated the idea of fleetingness and urgency

Did you think these tracks in the dust would last
He posed the same poignant question from earlier

I think we're passing through here kind of fast
Reinforcement and repetition of earlier sentiment

Did you think these tracks in the dust would last
Reiteration of the earlier poignant question.