The runway stretches beyond my sight
As I line up for takeoff this moonlit night.
Four engines hum, all gauges are steady -
Runway lights beckon. I am ready.
Throttles advanced and the engines roar
Mere moments now, til we will soar.
Brakes released, and starting to roll
I am exhilarated, in complete control.
The airspeed builds; we will lift off soon
I want to climb this bird all the way to the moon.
But something is suddenly terribly wrong,
For weve stayed on this runway far too long.
The runway stretches endlessly
And it has no end that I can see
We can roll on forever.
But try as I might, we cannot break free.
The engines are fine and all systems go
But the airspeed remains just a few knots low.
I close the throttles and I stand on the brakes
And I try to stop this insane roll
But we continue on; the brakes wont hold!
I suddenly realize, I am not in control.
I roll down that runway to eternity
Wanting to soar, but lacking the ability to ever break free.
I waken then, and clearly see
That the endless runway, is the life I lead.
And if there be times that I ever have soared
Those times have been at the hand of the Lord.
For by His hand was that runway laid
And by His hand are those takeoffs made.