MOG

Originally done by Jerry Joseph & Glenn Esparza, "Climb To Safety" has become a staple cover song for Widespread Panic. Lucky for me, I got to see them perform it this past Sunday in Richmond. My 10th Panic show; and oddly enough, my 5th time getting "Climb To Safety" in the setlist. They must love playing it as much as I love hearing it.

When those keys chime in the beginning, the hair raises on my arms. Beyond the music, the lyrics hold special resonance for me...one of my anthems.

~You can hear it comin' Like a train out of control Surely leaves you wonderin' Exactly where your ticket goes You scream to the conductor But he's been deaf for twenty years Hear the other people laughin' As he grinds through every gear

Go to grab your nerve, you find that it is missin' Seems you've lost your faith in everyone you know And I surely hope that you don't plan on winnin' Better start payin' more attention to the ones that throw you clear You are seconds from the impact, and you're movin' way too slow

Time will surely mold you Into something you don't like Get you runnin' like a rabbit Stick your finger in the dike

Look around your room you find the paint is peelin' Your reflective skin is fallin' off your bones Well, I must admit I know just how you're feelin' We must grab each others collar, we must rise out of the water And you know as well as I do it's no fun to die alone

Climb to safety After all that I've been through, you're the only one that matters Climb to safety You never left me in the dark here on my own Climb to safety Feel the water rising. Let me be your ladder Climb to safety I promise you'll be dry and never be alone

Love has always scared you Like the things under your bed Baby, we can walk on water Like some junkies swore they did

You call me on the phone, you say that it is crucial You stick your fingers in your ears 'til they explode I guess the business will be goin' on as usual We must grab each others collar, we must rise out of the water 'Cause you know as well as I do that it's no fun to die alone

Climb to safety After all that I've been through, you're the only one that matters Climb to safety You never left me in the dark here on my own Climb to safety Feel the water rising. Let me be your ladder Climb to safety I promise you'll be dry and never be alone

Climb to safety, safety~