Baseball

(Verse 1)
The sun beats down on dusty ground, a diamond scarred with time
A wooden bat held in my hands, a hope to make it shine
Ninety feet to first, it feels a mile to go
A nervous heart inside my chest, the only thing I know
The pitcher's wind-up, slow and long, a moment caught in space
A metaphor for all the doubts that I've been forced to face

(Chorus)
Swing for the fences, watch the ball fly high and free
Some days it's a home run, a victory for me
Some days it's a pop fly, an easy out to catch
But you can't learn to hit in this baseball game of scratch
Every strikeout, every run, every error made
Is just a lesson learned inside the baseball game we've always played

(Verse 2)
I stole a base once in my prime, a gamble bold and fast
Outran the tag and slid in safe, a feeling built to last
Then grounded out with bases loaded, the winning run at home
Walked off the field with head held low, feeling all alone
The roar of the crowd, a fickle sound, they love you then they jeer
But the only voice that truly counts is the one that's held so dear

(Chorus)
Swing for the fences, watch the ball fly high and free
Some days it's a home run, a victory for me
Some days it's a pop fly, an easy out to catch
But you can't learn to hit in this baseball of scratch
Every strikeout, every run, every error made
Is just a lesson learned inside the baseball game we've always played

(Bridge)
The years roll on, the seasons change, the uniform is worn
A lifetime spent beneath the lights, from twilight to the dawn
I've seen the rookies rise and fall, the veterans hold their own
I've learned that every single player is fighting all alone
And you can't win 'em all, no matter how hard that you try
But you'll never feel the joy of winning if you never see a loss
A sacrifice fly can be a better play than any run you've ever earned

(Outro)
So step up to the plate again, with every single breath
This game of life, it's far from over, no surrender, not 'til death
The sun sets on the diamond now, the shadows long and deep
But tomorrow's a new game, and promises to keep.

metal