Lyrics:

Judy Collins Lyrics
'Risk'

Time slips by in the hourglass
You can hear your name
Sand slides through the stranger's hand
As he deals the game.
All the candles are burning low
No more cradles and no more snow
Bet your life on a lucky roll
Play your queen, you could win your soul,
Stakes are high you can live or die
To risk everything.

In your goblet the wine is black
As a moonless night
Wet your lips before you kiss
The blazing light
Bets are off but the game is on,
Drop the armor you counted on
All your armies are fled and gone
Win your king, you can play your pawn
Take your time, you have just begun
To risk everything.

Catch your tears in a golden sieve
Don't regret what you did to live
Don't forget that you must forgive
To risk everything.

Through the window you see the storm
That is gathering,
Painted gypsies on dappled horses are galloping
Through the trees in the howling wind
Down the hills to the river bend
Shadow ghosts that are blind as night
Shrieking curses against the night,
Daring you to come join their flight
And risk everything.

Catch your tears in a golden sieve
Don't regret what you did to live
Don't forget that you must forgive
To risk everything.

There is nothing to hold you now
To your fault or mine
Fallen idols and martyred souls
Are the only kind
Feet of clay in the emerald skies
Birds of prey when the dreamer dies
Perfect crosses perfect your lies
Burning saints in the flaming skies
Bet your life every promise dies
All that's left for you to try
Is risking everything.

Catch your tears in a golden sieve
Don't regret what you did to live
Don't forget that you must forgive
To risk everything.

Oh, Oh

Catch your tears in a golden sieve
Don't regret what you did to live
Don't forget that you must forgive.
To risk everything.

Time slips by in the hourglass
You can hear your name
Sand slides through the stranger's hand
As he deals the game.
All the candles are burning low
No more cradles and no more snow
Bet your life on a lucky roll
Play your queen, you could win your soul,
Stakes are high you can live or die
To risk everything.

Catch your tears in a golden sieve
Don't regret what you did to live
Don't forget that you must forgive
To risk everything.


Writer(s): Gwendolyn Collins