Burning Bridges:
Timothy McVeigh's Theme Song
When the film, "Kelly's Heroes" came out, it included a particular song entitled, "Burning Bridges." When David and Tim watched this film one night on death row, David thought to himself, "That could very well be Tim's theme song." David hit the nail right on the proverbial head. Tim really did burn all his bridges, first by bombing the federal building, then by waiving his appeals and demanding a speedy execution date last December and then, to top it all off, he let it leak to the media that he wanted to be cremated and have his ashes scattered at the site of the blast. It appeared that this man needed to be despised, probably because he hated himself so very much.
As I read the lyrics from the song, my eyes filled with tears. Why couldn't Tim have really listened to the words and likened them to his own dire and tragic situation? Why did he burn the bridges and leave himself boxed into a corner of the infamous death chamber? Nobody but Tim knows the answers to these questions and, of course, we cannot ask Tim McVeigh any questions anymore.
Right below, I have posted the lyrics to "Burning Bridges." As you read them, or even seek out the album on which the song appears, just think of a very pale and extremely skinny young man who had greased his path to the death chamber and didn't seem to care whether he lived or died.
From everything I have read on the Death Row Speaks site, Tim was ambivilant about life and death. Last December he convinced himself that he was ready to die and that no more appeals should be filed in his behalf. Although his lawyer, Robert Nigh, attempted to persuade his client to reconsider, Tim would have none of it. He wanted a date set for his death and would spend the rest of his days preparing for his execution.
Then came that unexpected stay---it appeared out of nowhere, it seemed, and indicated that the FBI hadn't turned over many, many pages of evidence that should have been presented at the trial. At first, Tim was dismayed at having to go through the whole painful process again, but it seemed as if he had had a change of plans and was ready to go ahead and seek yet another appeal.
That was not to happen. When Judge Masch denied Tim McVeigh another stay and announced his execution date as June 11th, he was somewhat chagrined. He'd begun eating his meals again after enduring a lengthy starvation diet of only vegetables and seemed to perk up. But now it was all to be over and I cringed with disappointment and pain, that the end was truly near for a man I had been supporting and writing to and that there was absolutely nothing either I or anyone else could do about it.
Ah, those burning bridges. David has said about Tim that, "Even in his final hours of life, Tim continues to be his own worst enemy. This man, a friend of Tim's, has a great deal of insight into the human psyche and hit McVeigh's situation and attitude right on the mark.
Here then, are the lyrics to what I am renaming, for the sake of this site, "Timothy's Song."
Friends all tried to warn me
But I held my head up high
All the time they warned me
But I only passed them by
They all tried to tell me
But I guess I didn't care
I turned my back and
Left them standing there
All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore
Joey tried to help me find a job
A while ago
When I finally got it I didn't want to go
The party Mary gave for me
When I just walked away
Now there's nothing left to say
All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore
Years have passed and I keep thinking
What a fool I've been
I look back into the past and
Think of way back then
I know that I lost everything I thought I that could win
I guess I should have listened to my friends
All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore
Burning bridges lost forever.
Written by The Mike Curb Congregation.
