I've got this phosphorescent portrait Of gentle Jesus meek and mild I've got this harlot that I'm stuck with Carrying another man's child The solitary star announcing vacancy Burnt out as we arrived They'd throw us back across the border If they knew that we survived And they were surprised to see us So they greeted us with palms They asked for ammunition acts Of contrition and small alms I might recite a small prayer if I ever said them I lay down on an iron frame and found myself in BedlamI wish that I could take something for drowning out the noise Wailing echoes down the corridors I've got this imaginary radio And I'm punching up the dial I've got the AC trained on the TVSo it won't blow up in my eye And everything that I thought fanciful And mocked as too extreme Must be family entertainment here In the strange land of my dreams And I'm practicing my likeness Of St. Francis of AssisiFor if I hold my hand outstretched A little bird comes to me And I might recite a small prayer if I ever said them I lay down on an iron frame and found myself in BedlamEscaping from the fingers that were stretching through the bars Wailing echoes down the corridors The player piano picks out ' Life goes on' The ring tone rang out ' Jerusalem' Into the pit of sadness where the rank of wretched plunge We've buried all the innocents we must bury revenge They've got this scared and decorated girl Strapped to the steel trunk of a MustangAnd then they drove her down a cypress grove Where traitors hang and stars still spangle They dangled flags and other rags Along a colored thread of twine They dragged that bruised and purple heart Along the road to PalestineSomeone went off muttering He mentioned thirty pieces Easter saw a slaughtering Each wrapped in bloodstained fleeces My thoughts returned to vengeance But I put up no resistance Though it seemed a long way from my home It really was no distance And I might recite a small prayer if I ever said them I lay down on an iron frame and found myself in BedlamBowing like an actor acknowledging applause Playing the crusader who was conquering the MarsAnd he knew the consequences but he won't accept the cause Wailing echoes down the corridors Feel it, feel it
I've got this phosphorescent portrait Of gentle Jesus meek and mild I've got this harlot that I'm stuck with Carrying another man's child The solitary star announcing vacancy Burnt out as we arrived They'd throw us back across the border If they knew that we survived And they were surprised to see us So they greeted us with palms They asked for ammunition acts Of contrition and small alms I might recite a small prayer if I ever said them I lay down on an iron frame and found myself in BedlamI wish that I could take something for drowning out the noise Wailing echoes down the corridors I've got this imaginary radio And I'm punching up the dial I've got the AC trained on the TVSo it won't blow up in my eye And everything that I thought fanciful And mocked as too extreme Must be family entertainment here In the strange land of my dreams And I'm practicing my likeness Of St. Francis of AssisiFor if I hold my hand outstretched A little bird comes to me And I might recite a small prayer if I ever said them I lay down on an iron frame and found myself in BedlamEscaping from the fingers that were stretching through the bars Wailing echoes down the corridors The player piano picks out ' Life goes on' The ring tone rang out ' Jerusalem' Into the pit of sadness where the rank of wretched plunge We've buried all the innocents we must bury revenge They've got this scared and decorated girl Strapped to the steel trunk of a MustangAnd then they drove her down a cypress grove Where traitors hang and stars still spangle They dangled flags and other rags Along a colored thread of twine They dragged that bruised and purple heart Along the road to PalestineSomeone went off muttering He mentioned thirty pieces Easter saw a slaughtering Each wrapped in bloodstained fleeces My thoughts returned to vengeance But I put up no resistance Though it seemed a long way from my home It really was no distance And I might recite a small prayer if I ever said them I lay down on an iron frame and found myself in BedlamBowing like an actor acknowledging applause Playing the crusader who was conquering the MarsAnd he knew the consequences but he won't accept the cause Wailing echoes down the corridors Feel it, feel it
