The Final Move

The Final Move

(Written by Chris Rice, Christopher M. Rice • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc)
(Listen here)

Saw an old guy today
Staring long at a chess game
Looked like it was half-played
Then his tear splashed between
The bishop and the king...oh
He turned his face to mine
I saw the Question in his eyes
I shrugged him half a smile and walked away
It made me sad, and it made me think
And now it makes me sing what I believe

It was love that set this fragile planet rolling
Tilting at our perfect twenty-three
Molecules and men infused with holy
Finding our way around the galaxy
And Paradise has up and flown away for now
But hope still breathes and truth is always true
And just when we think it's almost over
Love has the final move
Love has the final move

Heard a young girl sing a song
To her daughter in her pale arms
Walkin' through a rainstorm

“Because you're here my little girl
It's gonna be a better world"...oh
She turned her face to mine
I saw the Answer in her eyes
I shrugged her half a smile and walked away
It made me smile, and it made me think
And now it makes me sing what I believe

It was love that set our fragile planet rolling
Tilting at our perfect twenty-three
Molecules and men infused with holy
Finding our way around the galaxy
And Paradise has up and flown away for now
But hope still breathes and truth is always true
And just when we think it's almost over
Love has the final move
Love has the final move

(Something right went very wrong
But love has been here all along)

Lemonade

Previously, I wrote that "enchantment is the opposite of entitlement." These words of Chris Rice tell of enchantment. He is enchanted with life, lemonade, and love.

Lemonade
(Listen to it here) 

So go ahead and ask her
For happy ever after
'Cause nobody knows what's coming
So why not take a chance on loving?
Come on, pour the glass and tempt me
Either half-full or half-empty, yeah
'Cause if it all comes down to flavor
The glass is tippin' in my favor 

Life gave me lemonade
And I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day
Beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I'm a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade 

Now take your time to answer me
For the beauty of romancing
Is to calm your trembling hand with mine
While beggin' love to fill your eyes
I can hardly breathe while waitin'
To find out what your heart is saying
And as we're swirlin' in this flavor
The world is tilting in our favor 

Life gave me lemonade
And I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day
Beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I'm a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade 

I've got it made, rest in the shade
And hold my love while God above
Stirs with a spoon, we share the moon
Smile at the bees, more sugar please
He really loves us after all
We're gonna need another straw
We're gonna need another straw 

'Cause life gave me lemonade
And I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day
Beneath a tangerine sky
Life gave me lemonade
And I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day
Beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I'm a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade 

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade 

Songwriter: RICE, CHRISTOPHER M.; Published by Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Those of us born here in Canada have been given lemonade. We have already won the global lottery: born in one of the richest countries on the planet, a place with extensive freedoms, a situation in which we can make choices about our destiny, and a position that allows us the blessing of helping others. So, "Come on, pour the glass and tempt me Either half-full or half-empty, yeah 'Cause if it all comes down to flavor The glass is tippin' in my favor." Like all lottery winners, I now must make the difficult choices of how I will use the tremendous resources available to me. "'Cause life gave me lemonade And I can't imagine why."