Magic and Loss - The Summation - Lou Reed

When you pass through the fire, you pass through humble

You pass through a maze of self doubt

When you pass through humble, the lights can blind you

Some people never figure that out

You pass through arrogance, you pass through hurt

You pass through an ever present past

And it's best not to wait for luck to save you

Pass through the fire to the light

Pass through the fire to the light

Pass through the fire to the light

It's best not to wait for luck to save you

Pass through the fire to the light

As you pass through the fire, your right hand waving

There are things you have to throw out

That caustic dread inside your head will never help you out

You have to be very strong 'cause you'll start from zero

over and over again

And as the smoke clears there's an all consuming fire

Lying straight ahead

Lying straight ahead

Lying straight ahead

As the smoke clears there's an all consuming fire

Lying straight ahead

They say no one person can do it all

But you want to in your head

But you can't be Shakespeare and you can't be Joyce

So what is left instead

You're stuck with yourself and a rage that can hurt you

You have to start at the beginning again

And just this moment

This wonderful fire started up again

When you pass through humble, when you pass through sickly

When you pass through, I'm better than you all

When you pass through anger and self deprecation

And have the strength to acknowledge it all

When the past makes you laugh and you can savor the magic

That let you survive your own war

You find that that fire is passion

And there's a door up ahead, not a wall

As you pass through fire, as you pass through fire

Trying to remember its name

When you pass through fire licking at your lips

You cannot remain the same

And if the building's burning, move towards that door

But don't put the flames out

There's a bit of magic in everything

And then some loss to even things out

Some loss to even things out

Some loss to even things out

There's a bit of magic in everything

And then some loss to even things out