Spiritual Reflux

Sometimes my spirit (I suppose that's what it is) kicks things up into my mind and I find myself repeating a lyric that just seems to capture the moment. This morning the phrase, "held together by habit and skin" appeared out of nowhere. I tracked it down (thanks google!) and it is from a song by Bruce Cockburn called Don't Feel Your Touch. Here's the context for "...habit and skin".

The last light of day crept away like a drunkard after gin.
A hint of chanted prayer now whispers from the fresh night wind
To this shattered heart and soul held together by habit and skin
And to this half-gnawed bone of apprehension buried in my brain
As i don't feel your touch, again.

Good writing always transcends the immediate context and this lyric has haunted me for years. That is, at various times in my life it describes this or that broken relationship. Being alienated from those around (or above) you leaves you feeling this way. It doesn't matter whether the alienation stems from necessity, accident, or malice...it still leaves you feeling this way.