A Handful of Dust

Patty Loveless · When Fallen Angels Fly [1994]

(Tony Arata)



Break us down by our elements

And you might think He failed

We're not copper for one penny

Or even iron for one nail.



And a dollar would be plenty

To buy twenty of us

Until true love is added

To these handfuls of dust.



Handful of dust, handful of dust

Sums up the richest and poorest of us

True love makes priceless the worthless

Whenever it's added to a handful of dust.



--- Instrumental ---



However small though our worth may be

When shared between two hearts

Is even more than it would ever be

Measured on its own, apart.



And our half what it could be

Is now twice what it was

When true love is added

To these handfuls of dust.



Handful of dust, handful of dust

Sums up the richest and poorest of us

True love makes priceless the worthless

Whenever it's added to a handful of dust.



Handful of dust, handful of dust

Sums up the richest and poorest of us

True love makes priceless the worthless

Whenever it's added to a handful of dust...