Spokes In A Wheel

Spokes In A Wheel
Lyrics by Frank Parker
Music by Frank Parker and Robert Wynne
© 2001

The last few days I've heard and read
From friends of mine on-line
One says he's lost a friend of years
"Her agenda was not mine."
Another took her leave from love
To seek another fare
Both friends were filled with loneliness-
And turned to those who care

I see life as a circle
There's a fullness to be found
Like spokes upon a wheel
Together we are bound
The lives that touch our being
Spreading outward from the core
Shore up the outer structure
Of our world for evermore

I sat and read words of loss
Of new paths to carve out
I saw the feelings of many friends
Who responded to their call
And I thought how close we really are
And how fragile ties can be
And how we need to cling somewhere
When friendship takes its leave

(Instrumental Verse)

(Chorus)

So every now and then
Through wear and tear of life
A spoke will loosen or fall off
And the wheel's no longer tight
We tend to turn to those we trust
And ask them for advice
Like a wrench we use their words
To tighten up our lives

(Chorus)

Frank Parker wrote this song, and sent it to me with chords. I picked up my guitar and started playing through the changes he'd written, and then started singing the song to the melody that the chords suggested to me. when I mentioned I had done this, he asked to hear my melody before sending me a recording of his, and he ended up liking mine better. To be perfectly honest, my contribution to this song was minimal, but he insisted on giving me half-credit.