Voices of the Academy (ALIVE in Des Moines Version) [Draft 6]

[Applause settles; guitar and bass keep a quiet walking pulse] [Spoken - Vox, friendly storyteller] Augustine tells a story that made him laugh. Two travelers reach a fork in the road. One quickly believes a farm worker's directions and goes on ahead. The cautious traveler waits for someone more impressive. A well-dressed man rides up, gives him directions, and turns out to be a swindler. Our cautious traveler follows the advice as probable, without calling it certain. The first traveler reaches the destination. The second gets lost in the woods. [Brief pause for the audience] Augustine laughs at a definition that calls the first man mistaken, but lets the lost man escape that label. He thinks rash belief deserves criticism too. The question is how our account of error holds up when somebody actually takes the wrong road. The Academy sought truth and followed the probable; our song gives the resulting struggle a theatrical voice. [Bass pulse resolves; original layered vocal opening begins] [Original song - retain its melody and lyric order] We are the wise they proudly say No truth can last so look away They wear their doubt like a crown And drag the searching spirit down I sat among their learned minds But found no peace in all their signs Each voice a maze each word a mask And still no one would dare to ask If nothing’s true why do you teach Why does your gospel even preach Voices of the Academy Shouting doubt in harmony Clever lines and practiced tones But none can stand alone Voices of the Academy Wrap the truth in irony But something deep won’t bend to flair Cause even silence shows it’s there They say doubt is light doubt is wise But all I see are covered eyes What if knowing starts with trust Not just ashes but the dust And in the noise I heard one chord A simple flame a single word Voices of the Academy Weaving words so tactfully But I need fire I need breath Not endless games with death Voices of the Academy Falling into parody I won’t pretend I’ve seen the whole But I still know I have a soul Voices of the Academy Fade to black and tragedy But I’ve heard a higher sound Where quiet certainty is found So let them talk let them claim But I’ll walk out still knowing my name [Original final cadence completes; appreciative applause]