Rik Emmett (Triumph) - The Treadmill - rare unreleased song 1990

Описание: One of the first recordings Rik made after leaving Triumph in 1989. This song is not a polished cut, but rather a demo that was made in the sessions leading up to the release of Rik's first solo album 'Absolutely' in 1990.

The song was co-written with Graham Shaw, and features the vocal harmonies of Sherrie Jeacocke.

As Rik described it a decade later: "A strongly-felt lyric about the Irish troubles: there are currently some hopeful indications that they may be breaking some of the chains that bound them to the treadmill, which is a great thing... The song was eventually left off the package [Absolutely] in order to favour STAND and DELIVER as the prog rock centrepiece."

This song was briefly released by Rik around 2001 as a website download. Enjoy this great song!

Lyrics:
The sun won't shine upon the island
A cold hard rain keeps falling down
That cannot wash away the sorrow
All the scars cut deep into the bloodstained ground

The lines are drawn in ancient places
The sword of vengeance surely cuts both ways
Inside the will of a distant aging empire
On the battleground between churches and states

Where is the promise of tomorrow?
Where do we go to save our hopes and dreams?
There is no god to sanctify the bloodshed
There is no end to justify the means

And it all goes on
And it all goes on...

The blacksmith hammers on the anvil
The links are forged in ghetto politics and pain
Each generation cast upon the treadmill
Tell me who can ever break the chain?

When the Easter lilly rises from the ground of Casement Park
Casting ever longer shadows reaching deep into the heart
Can you hear the children crying as they long for their release
from the fight to keep the faith that somehow
Never keeps the peace

And it all goes on
And it all goes on and on.

Don't talk of freedom for the children
Your empty words disguise a hollow lie
There is no dignity or honour found in terror
There is no justice in a blind eye for an eye

Don't talk of pride - don't talk to me of reason
Don't talk of heroes martyred to the cause
There's only pawns, and puppets - only victims
in drowning desperation, clutching out at straws.

So say a prayer for Ulster's sons & daughters
To liberate them from their past
To break the chains that bind them to the treadmill
that they may come to find some peace at last.