Toronto the Good
8/14/2003
by Lorne Clarke copyright 2003

Based on an actual event which occurred during my time as a police officer in the city of Toronto.

We welcome your comments.

He had just about climbed all the way to the top
By the time that the first cop arrived
There was blood on his hand from the neck of the bottle
And perhaps just a bit on his mind
And perhaps just a bit on his mind

He was stark in the light of the afternoon sun
I can still see him now if I try
Cursing and crying and ready to jump
It was only a matter of time
It was only a matter of time

And after a moment the firetrucks came
With an ambulance not far behind
And the kids in the playground of the Norton Street School
Were glued to the fence in a line
Were glued to the fence in a line

No preacher - no teacher to take them away
No grown-up to chase them inside
Then one of those kids yelled, "JUMP MONKEY JUMP!"
And the rest of them took up the cry
And the rest of them took up the cry

For me time has frozen - the world has stopped dead
But those children still keep up their chant
I wish I could drive it all out of my mind
But I've tried and I've tried and I can't
I've tried and I've tried and I can't

Two firemen quietly crept to the roof
They were rigged and ready to climb
But as they approached the base of the tower
He screamed at them, "GO BACK INSIDE!"
He screamed at them, "Go back inside."

As the firemen paused - just for a moment
It was then he decided to fly
But he fell like a stone to the sidewalk below
Yes he jumped and he fell and he died
He jumped and he fell and he died

    Chorus

Sometimes as I pass through these streets on patrol
Making sure that things are alright
I wonder if nightmares ever visit those kids
Like the ones that I have every night
Like the ones that I have every night

And I wonder if somewehere deep inside me
Lurks the shadow I saw in their eyes
Who would badger a man to leap to his death
And offer no hope for his life
And offer no hope for his life
 

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