From the musical CANCERMAN
The musical dives into the turbulent thoughts of a man reviewing his life as his terminal cancer progresses. He is accompanied in his mental and physical journey by a chorus that supports him and helps him define his thoughts along the way. This song faces up to the infelicities of advancing age. –J. Linn Allen
BIT BY BIT WE SLIP AWAY
PIECE BY PIECE, CHIP BY CHIP
LIFE LAST WEEK IS LOSS TODAY
BREAK A TOE, CRACK A HIP
BONES GET SOFTER, ARTERIES HARD
EYESIGHT’S CLOUDY, HEARING’S FAINT
MUSCLES WORK LIKE MELTING LARD
SKIN COULD USE A COAT OF PAINT
FINGERS STIFFEN, CURL AND CRAMP
NECK CAN’T TURN, KNEES CAN’T BEND
LIPS GET DRY, THOUGHTS GET DAMP
YOU START A SENTENCE YOU CAN’T END.
HAIR GETS BRITTLE, TEETH GET ROTTEN
BALANCE FALTERS, BOTH HANDS SHAKE
WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED IS ALL FORGOTTEN
NOTHING MOVES THAT DOESN’T ACHE
SLIDE DOWN THE AGING SLOPE
THE GRADUAL DECLINE
IF YOU’RE STILL HERE YOU’RE DOING FINE
THE TRICKY PART IS KEEPING UP
YOUR COURAGE AT THE FINISH LINE.
PIECE BY PIECE WE GO AWAY
LITTLE BY LITTLE, BIT BY BIT
ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO SAY:
WE MIGHT SOMEHOW GET USED TO IT.
PIECE BY PIECE WE GO AWAY
BIG TO LITTLE, SIZED TO FIT
ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO SAY:
THAT MAYBE
COULD BE
KEEPING ON
WITH WIT OR GRIT
WE MIGHT SOMEHOW GET USED TO IT.
BIT BY BIT BY BIT BY BIT.