Crucifixion

Phil Ochs

And the night comes again to the circle studded sky

The stars settle slowly, in lonliness they lie

'Till the universe expodes as a falling star is raised

Planets are paralyzed, mountains are amazed

But they all glow brighter from the briliance of the blaze

With the speed of insanity, then he dies.



In the green fields a turnin', a baby is born

His cries crease the wind and mingle with the morn

An assault upon the order, the changing of the guard

Chosen for a challenge that is hopelessly hard

And the only single sound is the sighing of the stars

But to the silence and distance they are sworn



So dance dance dance

Teach us to be true

Come dance dance dance

'Cause we love you



Images of innocence charge him go on

But the decadence of destiny is looking for a pawn

To a nightmare of knowledge he opens up the gate

And a blinding revelation is laid upon his plate

That beneath the greatest love is a hurricane of hate

And God help the critic of the dawn.



So he stands on the sea and shouts to the shore,

But the louder that he screams the longer he's ignored

For the wine of oblivion is drunk to the dregs

And the merchants of the masses almost have to be begged

'Till the giant is aware, someone's pulling at his leg,

And someone is tapping at the door.



To dance dance dance

Teach us to be true

Come dance dance dance

'Cause we love you



Then his message gathers meaning and it spreads accross the land

The rewarding of his pain is the following of the man

But ignorance is everywhere and people have their way

Success is an enemy to the losers of the day

In the shadows of the churches, who knows what they pray

For blood is the language of the band.



The Spanish bulls are beaten; the crowd is soon beguiled,

The matador is beautiful, a symphony of style

Excitement is estatic, passion places bets

Gracefully he bows to ovations that he gets

But the hands that are applauding are slippery with sweat