Potter's Wheel

This song appears on three albums, and was first released on the Different Directions album, and has also been released on The John Denver Collection - Annie's Song album. It has also been released on The John Denver Collection - Calypso album, as a live version.

The world is fast becoming younger

The news is all they've ever known

They've seen the wars, the hurt, the hunger

How will they choose when they are grown

What do you tell forever's children

When it's their turn to hurt and heal

Whatever spins a grim tornedo

Can also turn a potters wheel

Take a little clay

Put it on a wheel

Get a little hint

How God must feel

Give a little turn

Listen to a spin

Make it into the shape

You want it in

Tell with your life the bloody story

Teach to they're dreams not burning steel

It's not in bombs where lies the glory

But in what's shattered on the field

The potter's wheel takes love and caring

Skill and patience fast and slow

The works it makes are easily broken

Once they survive the potter's throw

Take a little clay

Put it on a wheel

Get a little hint

How God must feel

Give a little turn

Listen to a spin

Make it into the shape

You want it in

Some day some children will be digging

In some long forgotten ground

And they'll find our civilisation

Or what's left of it to be found

They'll find the weapons of destruction

But buried deeper in the hole

They'll find a message and a promise

In the sand, the potter's bowl

Take a little clay

Put it on a wheel

Get a little hint

How God must feel

Give a little turn

Listen to a spin

Make it into the shape

You want it in

Earth and fire and wind conspire

With human hands, and love, and fire

Words and Music by Bill Danoff