One Step Away

Soulful, emotional, dark contemporary soul folk, male singer songwriter, folk R&B, chillstep, sludge drum and bass

[Verse 1]  
He was a veteran, once good with his hands,  
built bridges that kissed the sky.  
Now his fingers shake as he holds a cardboard sign,  
“Hungry. Anything helps.”  
His boots split open like an old wound,  
but he still walks the miles.  
We tell ourselves, "That could never be me,"  
but never stop to wonder why.

[Pre-Chorus]  
And we walk on by, eyes glued to the ground,  
Convince ourselves we're different, safe and sound.

[Chorus]  
But we’re all one step, 
one fall away,  
From the edge where hope is slain.  
Empty houses, broken dreams,  
A testament to what hope could mean.  
If we stood together, hand in hand,  
We could build homes across this land.  
'Cause we’re all one step, 
one fall away,

[Verse 2]  
She had a house, a garden full of daffodils,  
kids who called her a hero.  
Then came the layoff, the hospital bills,  
the slow erosion to zero.  
She sleeps now where the city hums,  
beneath the rusted tracks,  
and every door she knocks on  
echoes her past back,  
And she's met with disdain
At all that she lacks

[Pre-Chorus]  
We avert our gaze, lock doors tight,  
But their story is ours in a different light.

[Chorus]  
‘Cause we’re all one step, 
one fall away,  
From cold streets where lost hearts stray.  
Empty houses, broken dreams,  
A testament to what hope could mean.  
If we came together, with hearts aligned,  
We would leave no soul behind.  
‘Cause we’re all one step, 
one fall away,  
From cold streets where lost hearts stray.  
One step away.

[Bridge]  
Met a man who whispered, “It only takes one.  
One storm, one sickness, one twist of the knife.”  
He said, “I used to walk like you do now,  
thinking this couldn't be my roll of the dice.”  
He smiled like a prophet, broken and wise,  
and I couldn’t meet his eyes.

One step away.

2503/7500

## Walking Together: Songs for Solidarity ## This is an entry in the Walking Together songwriting contest. The WEF estimates there are over 150 million people without homes worldwide. This project is aimed at supporting efforts to help people "made of potential" out of homelessness in co-operation with Homeless Entrepreneurs. [Verse 1] He was a veteran, once good with his hands, built bridges that kissed the sky. Now his fingers shake as he holds a cardboard sign, “Hungry. Anything helps.” His boots split open like an old wound, but he still walks the miles. We tell ourselves, "That could never be me," but never stop to wonder why. [Pre-Chorus] And we walk on by, eyes glued to the ground, Convince ourselves we're different, safe and sound. [Chorus] But we’re all one step, one fall away, From the edge where hope is slain. Empty houses, broken dreams, A testament to what hope could mean. If we stood together, hand in hand, We could build homes across this land. 'Cause we’re all one step, one fall away, [Verse 2] She had a house, a garden full of daffodils, kids who called her a hero. Then came the layoff, the hospital bills, the slow erosion to zero. She sleeps now where the city hums, beneath the rusted tracks, and every door she knocks on echoes her past back, And she's met with disdain At all that she lacks [Pre-Chorus] We avert our gaze, lock doors tight, But their story is ours in a different light. [Chorus] ‘Cause we’re all one step, one fall away, From cold streets where lost hearts stray. Empty houses, broken dreams, A testament to what hope could mean. If we came together, with hearts aligned, We would leave no soul behind. ‘Cause we’re all one step, one fall away, From cold streets where lost hearts stray. One step away. [Bridge] Met a man who whispered, “It only takes one. One storm, one sickness, one twist of the knife.” He said, “I used to walk like you do now, thinking this couldn't be my roll of the dice.” He smiled like a prophet, broken and wise, and I couldn’t meet his eyes. [Chorus] ‘Cause we’re all one step, one fall away, From cold streets where lost hearts stray. Empty houses, broken dreams, A testament to what hope could mean. If we came together, with hearts aligned, We would leave no soul behind. ‘Cause we’re all one step, one fall away, From cold streets where lost hearts stray. One step away. One step away.

0/500