The Other Side

I follow the white rabbit
he must know something clever
through the wood and briar
I would follow him forever

I follow till I’m weary
till the daylight’s growing dim
I turn a corner, call his name
somehow I’ve lost him

now I’m standing in a little room
with no window, latch, or seam
I cannot find the way I came
or wake myself from the dream

suddenly, a door before me
a door that wasn’t there before
O Lord, a door before me
no, it wasn't there before

I feel something in my pocket
something solid, something small
a little key, a small mercy
and to my knees I fall

I knew You wouldn’t leave me
I knew You’d make a way
I put the key into the lock
I only had to pray

open, open, open
please open up the door
I have the key, it's in the lock
I will be trapped no more

open, open, open
see me on my knees
You have made me a door
You have given me the key

I turn the key, the lock gives way
the door swings open wide
I cross the threshold laughing
thank God, I’m on the other side

there’s the corner where I started
there’s my shadow on the floor
there’s the room behind the doorway
the same room behind the door

the room behind the room
behind the room behind the door
every time I open it
I am where I was before

where am I to go now?
what am I to do?
why did You make a doorway
if it doesn't lead to You?

why did You show me anything?
why did You give me the key?
why put freedom in my pocket
if there’s nowhere to be free?

I know You are not cruel
I have seen the things You do
I have held my jars beneath the rain
and seen them filled anew

so I must be missing something
some writing on the wall
some mystery of heaven
I’m too foolish to recall

must I climb into the keyhole?
must I swallow down the key?
must I grow as small as nothing
before You’ll answer me?

I pace the room from wall to wall
I search on hands and knees
I rap my fists against my head
believe, believe, believe!

why did You show me the door?
why did You give me the key?
why wake a sleeping woman
if You never meant her free?

I’m going to die inside this room.
I’m going to die in here.
and somewhere runs the rabbit
as I slowly disappear