BIT BY BIT

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.


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