The Bridge
Lyrics by Howard Shirley
June 14, 2025.
It started in the spring
Just another April day.
All life sang out
To tempt their hearts away,
But they stood on the bridge
From it they wouldn’t stray.
Freedom told them
There was no other way.
When shots rang out
The whole world heard
That they stood on the bridge.
Their blood ran red,
their hearts held true
They gave it all
For me and you
They didn’t know us
We were just a dream—
But when all their fears
Came marching down that road
They wouldn’t run away
They wouldn’t shirk that load—
They stood on the bridge.
They were the first,
But not the last
Others rose
to claim their task.
From Valley Forge
To Yorktown
From Gettysburg
To France
From Manila
To Iwo Jima
Seoul, Saigon, Baghdad—
In Kabul and at Abbey Gate—
The stood for freedom
In a world that screams for hate.
On bloody fields
In fiery skies
The flag of freedom
Was in their eyes
And with no promise
But their dreams—
They stood on the bridge.
That’s always been the way
It’s always been the truth
Nothing comes without the price
They paid for me and you.
The question now is always what it’s been
Will we give way, buckle, fall and bend
Or will he lift our heads, hold up our hearts
And give it all for why they fought,
When we come to the bridge?
Answer me now
Answer me true
Do you know there’s more
Than me and you?
Will you take up the call
From long ago
And give your all
No matter what
Comes marching down that road?
Stand on the bridge!
Stand on the bridge!
There is no freedom
Without that pledge—
Stand on the bridge!
Stand on the bridge!
Stand on the bridge!
— Howard Shirley, aka Parzival
(If you can write music for this, give me a shout.)
