Applause.

Spoken:
One of the cool things about being a songwriter is that sometimes you
finish a song an' you look at it an' you think, "Wow, that's a pretty
good song. I wonder why I wrote it?" And what I've found over the years
is water seeks its own level. Sooner or later something will happen in my
life or in the life of the world around me, and, ah, I'll look at the
same song with new eyes, and go, "Ah! That's why I wrote it2."

Sung:
They say there was a fire on the night it died.
All I am is gone, still the soul holds on.
They tell me I'm a hero on the other side.
Oh, but all that I remember is the children were in danger,
On the other side.

Children laugh and sing on the other side.
The angels earn their wings on the other side (side, side).
On the other side.

They tell me you were with me when the building fell.
Strange to have you near after all these years.
You say I couldn't possibly have done it by myself.
Did you see our photgraphs, as they crumbled into ash?
On the other side.

Children laugh and sing on the other side.
The angels earn their wings on the other side (side, side).
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/w2EVOn the other side (side, side).

And I, who never could believe, never saw the need,
Wanted just to see your face again.
Had nothing to hold on to. Now I found you.
On the other side.

Children laugh and sing on the other side.
The angels earn their wings on the other side (side, side).
On the other side (side, side).
On the other side.

Janis, and pre-tape backup, performs a
passage in Latin for the requiem at the end.

ON THE OTHER SIDE (LIVE)
Written by: Janis Ian
Performed by: Janis Ian-July 16, 2001
Appears on: God & the FBI-2000, (Bonus Tracks)-2000, Lost Cuts 1-2001*1
& Live at Club Cafe (DVD)-2005. (*Only the track on this album is live.)
1Transcribed from the track on this album.
2The song was originally written for the album, God & the FBI, which
was released March 21, 2000, before the tragedy at the World Trade
Center. Janis seems to be referring to that event as the "...something
(that) will happen...in the life of the world around me...," that
clarified for her the reason this song was written. The words in this
version are changed only slightly from the original studio rendition.
Copyright © Janis Ian/her co-writer(s) if any/their publisher(s).
All rights reserved.