Please go on ahead of me
come back, tell me what you see
if a better land you find
there we'll take our family

But if all found is smoke and ash
don't linger there, hasten to dash
back to home and country dear
our kids would like it better here

When you've gone beyond those hills
far from these fields of our birth
keep silent, be very still
violent men roam this fair Earth

They'd not hesitate to ****,
rob, or beat you for a thrill
God protect and guide you true
save you from the things they do

That day when good news arrives
heralding your fruitful find
it is then we'll relocate
to that distant, better place

I'll pray each and every night
for your safe return, my dear
but should you forfeit your life
our kids will like it better here

By the candlelight of prayer
the monk knelt by the wick
a nasty over-passing host
made sure that he did slip
and caused the flame of meditaition
to leap and catch his robes
then laughed like mad and teased
that fire purifies the soul

I killed a demon with a drumstick
drove it through his eye
I rat-tat-tat the snare all day
and he did march in time
the black six-string, his only friend
upon his crooked back
and every time he's strummed since then
it just seems weak and slack

no one applauds, they turn away
his fury is offense
he doesn't mind offending though
folks have no common sense
the limelight idiotic glory
is all he does crave
but now he rots anonymous
one long, sad tune he plays

fenced in property lines
construction men with busy lives
their bulldozers and tractors
are moving rocks and sand
building cheap apartments
for those folks with empty hands

I am wondering
if they will sometimes smile
or just stare out of windows
as I walk by
I am wondering
if I knocked on their doors
if they'll treat me right
or simply say come back no more

today I saw the aftermath of an accident
as I walked along a busy street
two cars had been totaled, it was an ugly scene
the driver from the first car stood bleeding in the heat
some emt's were taking care of her more pressing needs
while from the second vehicle, some firemen retrieved
the body of a dead man, they covered him with sheets
I walked away in silence, not shocked in the least

And I am wondering
if an apparition's ghost
could carry all the pain they hold
from this world to the next
yes I am wondering
about coincidence
and being in the wrong place
right on time for accidents

I am wondering
what all this trouble's meant....

Paint your spirit bright with love.
Rid yourself of every thought
that tells you you're not good enough
to stand up and walk right.

Plant a garden in your heart.
Treasure each rare gift of song.
Give your sweetheart roses daily.
Serenade her nights.

And give no thought to what you're missing now.
because life's waiting to deliver you,
into the light and heaven will allow
your soul to be filled with joy and renewed.

Crawl away from this dead space
of fields dotted with unmarked graves,
where all the bones of the unsaved
now have no claim on you

Take a taxi to the shore.
Sail way, return no more.
Bury all your memories
of times you've been untrue.

And have no care for what you've left behind.
Those things you thought you never could live down
will just be visions vanished from your mind,
which will find peace at last and be made sound.

Proudly standing in the light,
she waves when you are within sight.
You marvel at her beautiful,
revealed angelic form.

Tears have dried up from your eyes.
You'll forget the reasons why
they rolled down when they were cried.
You wont hurt anymore.

And try not to explain the situation.
Nor all the pain your heart's endured and worn.
Heaven itself will be the explanation.
When death is vanquished and your love is born.

foiled again, such utter failure
our minds hatched plans broken by
the strong arms of our jailors
guarding all our souls tonight
who will spring us from these prisons?
lead us out into the light?
we're accustomed to the shadows
and the loss of our sight

we had schemes the law frustrated
we had no real chance to win
for the dance was orchestrated
and our missteps did us in
time elapsed and history faded
all our names died in the wind
with the shame of being hated
and the memory of our sins

overhead
are the sun
and the moon
of this galaxy in spin

underneath
are the grass
and the dirt
growing flowers dressed brighter than kings

inside and out
are the laughter
and sounds
of rejoicing with old friends

all around
is the wind
of heaven
which makes every heart to sing