Death Watch - Original Lyrics by Honest Lost John (Jon Hoekstra)

This one's a little heavy! Tell me how you feel about it.
*Accidentally borrowed most of the melody from Bob Dylan's masterpiece Desolation Row. Was thinking about making a Dylan style song and this is what came out. Then my friend Tim brought it to my attention. So I guess it's a co-write, me and Bobby McD.
I don't know if the hope comes through. Maybe in flickers.
The guitar is an old (ca 1970) Harmony parlor guitar sold by Sears, my wife Tina found it on the curb and took it home. I replaced the tuners and gave it some new silk/steel strings. I like the tone in the mid-range.
Chord progression and Lyrics:
D - - - D7 - - - G - - - Em - - - A - - - A7 - - - G - - - D - - -
D - - - D7 - - - G - - - Em - - - A - - - A7 - - - G - - - Gmaj7 - - - D - - - | - - - -
Intro: D - - - Bm - - - D - - - Bm - - -
We have found a shelter, with our hands we cup a flame
A flicker, an illusion, hope by another name
We’re in a darkened bedroom, while bedlam reigns outside
We are on a death watch but the flame… still hasn’t died
There’s a rusty tin dipper, a tray of breadcrumbs on the floor
Iron bars on the window, a deadbolt on the door
Got a tear-resistant blanket and we locked up all the knives
We are on a death watch but the flame… still hasn’t died
Interlude: D - - - Bm - - - D - - - Bm - - -
The coffee pot is empty, and Lord, I’m feeling wired
I’d call the old man in the sky but I hear he has retired
The oracles are tongue-tied and the seers have gone blind
We are on a death watch but the flame… still hasn’t died
The locusts are getting restless, the plagues have come and gone
We’re just alive enough to dread another one
The old clock has quit its ticking, twice a day it tells the time
We are on a death watch but the flame… still hasn’t died
Interlude: D - - - Bm - - - D - - - Bm - - -
The shipping lanes are empty and the ocean’s yawning wide
The plastic Sargasso Sea is where the doldrums have gone to die
One drifting old glass bottle, a longing long denied
We are on a death watch but the flame… still hasn’t died
And yet we keep our candle, bearing witness to this night
We hold our poor communion, we feed our feeble light
Tell it to the newborn who just opened up her eyes
We are on a death watch but the flame… still hasn’t died
Outro: D - - - Bm - - - D - - - Bm - - - D9 - - -