Jan Gillies - Snake

Snake Jan Gillies

Johnny saw a snake one day, when he was very young
Curled up on the woodpile, out basking in the sun
Someone had told him snakes were bad, and so he was afraid
So he picked up his daddy’s ax, they said he should be brave

The little garter snake awoke, as Johnny ventured near
A looming shadow blocked the sun, the snake had much to fear
& so he coiled in self-defense, just trying to survive
& tried to bite the falling ax; when Johnny struck, he died.

Chorus:
A killer’s heart begins to pound dark rhythms all its own
A pulse of power, growing dear, as viper’s blood replaces fear
Destruction, at its end

The young boy marveled at the snake, how vicious it had been!
Chopped off its head in triumph, to kill it was no sin.
The only good snake was one dead; he’d show them all, with pride,
And bask in all their praises when he took the head inside.

Decades passed before the boy, now grown, went off to war
To show the world he wasn’t scared to fight for cause and corps
The evil enemy must die. He’d walked this stage before
But these snakes looked a lot like us, and killing leads to more.
(chorus)
With every bullet that hits home, the fear and hate just grows
For self-defense, revenge or pride; the thirst for blood won’t go
Which side is ‘snake’, and which is ‘boy’? Our vision starts to blur
The right or wrong, the weak or strong; ‘til we’re not quite so sure.

What if the poor snake wasn’t bad, just a different form of life?
Another creature on this earth, enduring calm & strife?
Our point of view can alter things. It’s something we can change
Understanding conquers fear. Hatred is deranged.
(chorus)
But Johnny saw a snake one day when he was very young.