There is a road to the left
And a road to the right
And there's a road to freedom, babe
If you tie the thing right
Went down to your miserable garden
Where hang from callow boughs the fruits of my labour
And where my wagers squat, strain for ascension
For a mention in your bloody black book
And look what comes, slouching towards us
Just turned away from Bethlehem
It comes to revile, it comes to abhor us
All clinging like a child to the vicar's hem
When first I denied, the cock crew in the morning
The second time 'round I was away with the scum
Never mind if I lied to you, baby
I made you a wasteland, put tears on your tongue
I once was blind, now I am blinder
Rolling my rock down the heaving Strand
Baby's alright, she got a real man beside her
And I am on a chain held in his warm hand
See how the sun makes light of the way I'm looking
See through the rifle's sight the beast ready for cooking
And one more time down into darkness
A wasted husk, a fertile seed
It matters not, the world will ask nothing of you
Ecclesiastes, baby, I got everything you need
...for in much wisdom is much grief...
...and he that increaseth knowledge also increaseth sorrow...
And then I communed with mine own heart
Saying lo, I am come to great estate
And have gotten more wisdom than all those who came before me
But that which is crooked cannot be made straight
What is wanting cannot be numbered
So I sacked it all off for a bitter jug of wine
And a jezebel in Jerusalem, baby
Hang down your head, let the day go by!
Hang down your head, let the children cry!