Word to the Wise
(EABEBE)

Or "Turned Out to Be Wise" as the early alternate title. Nov. 3, 1998. I had just finished it and played it for producer Rick Naqvi who immediately fell in love with it. He made me play it for drummer Rich Courtney who also fell in love. They basically told me that I was going to record the song for the "More than Watchmen" sessions whether I liked it or not. It, like "Wise Blood" is a moody little piece on the back end of the album. Not meant to impress, but meant to savor.....

Solomon's Proverbs are a veritable mine field of metaphor. I don't think it's an accident, however, that wisdom is likened unto a woman throughout those proverbs. "Her" ways are pleasant. "Her" paths are paved in peace. "She" calls aloud in the noisy streets. Another testament to God's ironic sense of humor.......

i built my house on quicksand
the fields have long since burned
i found out that wisdom
yields much better returns

underneath the silver lining
deeper than the veins of gold
more precious than all the rubies
sacks of knowledge to lay hold

i thought i'd listen to reason
in the things i was after
but the voice i thought was wisdom
turned out to be laughter
i had held my meetings
determined in my eyes
but the things i thought were foolish
turned out to be wise

all her ways are pleasant
and her paths are paved in peace
i made a wrong turn at turmoil square
now i can't tell west from east

she raises her voice in the public square
she calls aloud in the noisy streets
but no one dares look her in the eye
'cause there's a mirror just beneath