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We explore
And we wonder
How everything could turn to rust
Lifeless streets
Like concrete canyons
Where seventeen million.. choked on dust
In the light of the burning trees
And the rise of the acid seas
We see there’s no way to please
Land that gave us birth
And the ravaging cyclones
And the towers gone back to stones
And the beetles nesting in our bones
O, vengeful earth
Creepers twine
With snaking cables
That must have served some purpose at one time
Skeletons…
Under kitchen tables…
Clutching plastic bags full of quarters and dimes
In the light of the burning trees
And the rise of the acid seas
We see there’s no way to please
Land that gave us birth
And the ravaging cyclones
And the towers gone back to stones
And the beetles nesting in our bones
O, vengeful earth
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I am a lonesome soldier,
I’ve soldiered all my life
And I’ve never known, I’ve never known
The comfort of a wife
I’ve divvied up my days
With my combat knife
And they used up, yeah they used up
My whole supply of life
Gonna ride a black train to the front
That’s where the bosses send me, where the bosses need my blood
Gonna ride a black train to the front
Where I always knew I’d end up, face down in the mud
Gonna ride a black train, black train
It’s got no bells or whistles
But you’ll know when it arrives
You’ll never feel, never feel, feel less alive
And the uniforms all turn out,
Like bees from a hive
They swarm aboard, swarm aboard,
For that final drive
Gonna ride a black train to the front
That’s where the bosses send me, where the bosses need my blood
Gonna ride a black train to the front
Where I always knew I’d end up, face down in the mud
Gonna ride a black train, black train
I come home to nothing
I come home to nothing
Iiiiiii ain’t coming home
I don’t have a body
I gave it to the war
But I know, yeah I know,
It’s what I signed up for
Just pin some medals on it
And zip it in a bag
And cover it, ah cover it
In that glorious flag
Gonna ride a black train to the front
That’s where the bosses send me, where the bosses need my blood
Gonna ride a black train to the front
Where I always knew I’d end up, face down in the mud
Gonna ride a black train, black train
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I am condemned
I’m bound to die
I have not sinned
Or done no crime
Oh, mother, please
Save your prayers
God ca-an’t keep me
From the chair
Mother, I’m so sorry
Things turned out this way
You knew I’d disappoint you
From my very first birthday
Father, I’m so sorry
I’m not your kind of man
I’m only strong enough
To kill with my bare hands
Time to walk that road
And I walk that road alone
The loneliest mile
This man will ever know
And before they
strap me in the chair
All I can scream
It’s not fucking FAIR
I was labor
On the railroad tracks
Fat cats take their greenbacks
From the sweat off our backs
I saw the foreman beat a Paddy
Weak from the sun
And in my rage I struck him down
What Moses would have done!
Now I’m clapped in chains
For killing a white man
Convicted by their jury
Their judge on the stand
And before they
Strap me in the chair
All I can scream
It’s not fucking fair
I feel no guilt
For what I’ve done
Defending the worker
From the whip and the gun
Expect no quarter
From the men with the gold
Their coppers are paid for
Their justice is sold
Oh, my little death
Will it help restore?
Their authority
For at least one day more
And before they
Strap me in the chair
All I can scream
It’s not fucking fair
I am condemned
I’m bound to die
I have not sinned
Or done no crime
Oh, mother, please
Save your prayers
God ca-an’t keep me
From the chair
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