There's a prophet on the railway He's coming with a book Written by a woman And blessed by a crook The station's been preparing For his arrival, coming soon He doesn't know a single person In the town under the moon
His robes are made of velvet And his chains out of gold His eyes look about a hundred Yet he's only twenty-two years old His hands are un-calloused With pages stapled to his chest In his mind he believes That he alone knows best
His name came from Berkley But he hails from the south His mother gave him nothing So he found his own way out In the dead of the night by his candlelight He heard a voice calling him It told to me ride north And let the people rejoice him
On their Sunday feast he sets down his feet In a town of simple heads He gets on a podium And he lifts them from their beds He promises them redemption He promises them the end And with just a touch of his hand He promises they'll be heaven sent
It's been six long years And his statue's turning green Just like his money Which lights his swisher sweets He knows his just a man Made of flesh and rotten skin He knows this and yet He's the one who wins