When Alexander The Great landed on the shores of Persia. He was vastly outnumbered by the Persian Army. He ordered his boats to be burned. legend has it that he said, “We either go home in Persian ships or we die!” It’s a powerful metaphor still today.
Or course there is a long story behind this song which I won’t bore you with. Suffice it to say it came out of a pretty intense personal conflict in a business relationship I was in that started out promising and then devolved into a massive exercise in ego… both mine and the other person’s.
Ultimately we don’t have time to waste on that crap!
We ALL have only a limited “engagement” here on the stage of life.
Military leaders have understood for thousands of years that warriors with their backs to the sea and no way to get back home other than fight to survive, WILL put absolutely EVERYTHING into the “task at hand”.
The real question is “What can YOU do today in YOUR life that you’ve been putting off because it’s too big, too crazy, too ‘this’ or ‘that?'” What escape routes do you need to close so you will do today what you’ve been putting off?
What if you just did one little thing towards your big dream today?
Sharing this song with you is my little step. What’s yours? Of course it could be listening to this song! LOL
Go GET ’em Tiger! :o)
– Mark
Check out what other versions, videos or performances of this song: Song 403 Boats Are Burning Home Page
Boats Are Burning
Song #403 | 10/25/09 | CD: TBD
I wish that I could tell you what you wanted to hear
I wish I could tell you that there’s nothing to fear
But I don’t have time to argue any more
Because the boats are burning on the shore
You can choose to think the thoughts you’ve always thought to think
You can medicate the pain with something strong to drink
But it won’t drown out the wolves howling at your door
Because the boats are burning on the shore
Refrain:
The boats are burning There is no turning back
The boats are burning on the shore
Your life is calling, stop stalling and attack
The boats are burning on the shore
Sometimes you have to do what no one else has done
Sometimes you have to walk when you would much rather run
You can see your self as rich or see your self as poor
But the boats are burning on the shore
Our backs are to the sea and there’s no where else to flee
So we must move forward ever more fiercely
There’s no time for you to add up what you’re due
The boats are burning on the shore
Refrain:
I don’t have time to explain it all to you
Or to take classes in your school of fools
I’m playing by a brand new set of rules
Cause the boats are burning on the shore
This is not a drill It’s either kill or be killed
We’ll either stand or fall but there’s no-one left to call
So lead or follow or get the hell out of the way
Cause the boats are burning on the shore
Refrain:
Look away if you want to or stare into the flames
Focus on your anger or focus on your pain
Either way you may not live to see another day
Cause the boats are burning on the shore
I rather go down fighting knowing that I’d done my best
If I take a bullet I’d prefer it in the chest
Than hiding in a cubicle or clinging to a desk
The boats are burning on the shore
copyright 2009-2015 by Mark Shepard. All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.
Photo credit – Copyright: / 123RF Stock Photo