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The Runner

from Like the river by Alex MacDonald

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about

My brother, Donald, was a surgeon in central India for 15 years. While there he treated a man who had rabies. The anti-rabies serum Donald took caused a reaction which led to his developing MS. In his younger days he was a great runner, especially cross-country. At a summer camp in 1991 I realised Donald would never run again. I wrote this for him.

lyrics

THE RUNNER

You ran through the fields where the wild flowers grew
As a child in the meadows with laughter in your eyes
You ran through the woods with the moss beneath your feet
A boy in the shadows with the hope that never dies
You ran on the hills with your face to the sky
Like the hare on the mountain, like the eagle on the wind
You ran like the river running to the sea
The river you would follow to the world's end

Chorus
And you'll fly like the eagle
And you'll run like the wind
You'll run and not be weary
You'll walk and you will never fall

You ran on the grass in lanes around the track
The length of the mile and the strength of your heart
You ran up the mountain with the cold stone lord
But you left him for dead, you won the race from the start
You ran with the hares and you ran with the hounds
But in the east wind of the city you started the big race
You ran on the strength of the one who gave his life
Running for freedom, for glory and for grace

You ran for understanding of sickness and of pain
Of healing and of mending what was broken and maimed
You ran for the people who could not run themselves
The cripple and the helpless, the hurting and ashamed
You ran to the country where beauty wears a skull
Where good blends with evil and all the gods are one
You ran to the blind to give them their sight
To the leper and the outcaste and the ones nearly gone

You ran to the poor man who had the bite of death
The kiss of life for him, the kiss of death for you
You ran the second mile for him, you gave him your own breath
Now the legs that ran for others will no longer run for you
You can't run in the fields and you can't run in the woods
On the track and on the hill your running days are done
But you'll run in the city where the river flows
You'll fly on the mountain when the day comes

(c) Alex J MacDonald

credits

from Like the river, released October 4, 2008
Alex MacDonald: vocals, guitar, and harmonica
Doug MacDonald:bandurria and percussion
Ismael Florit: bass and organ
Donald Forsyth: guitar

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Alex MacDonald Edinburgh, UK

Grew up in Kildonan Strath, Sutherland, where I loved the psalms and hymns and the old folk songs my father had learned from his drover grand uncle.Went on to Cash, the Clancys and Corries, Tom Paxton and Dylan. Started playing guitar and writing songs in my teens, but only started recording this century with my rock band sons! Either solo or with my band, I've played all over Scotland. ... more

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