On Parole / The Bishop (Live)

Freedom is mine

The earth is still

I feel the wind

I breathe again

And the sky clears

The world is waking

Drink from the pool, how clean the taste

Never forget the years, the waste

Nor forgive them for what they've done

They are the guilty, everyone

The day begins and now let's see

What this new world will do for me

You'll have to go

I'll pay you off for the day

Collect your bits and pieces there and be on your way

You have given me half what the other men get

This handful of tin wouldn't buy my sweat!

You broke the law

It's there for people to see

Why should you get the same as honest men like me?

Now I know how freedom feels

The jailer always at your heels

It is the law

This piece of paper in my hand

It makes me cursed throughout the land

It is the law

Like a cur

I walk the street

The dirt beneath their feet

Come in sir, for you are weary

And the night is cold out there

Though our lives are very humble

What we have, we have to share

There is wine here to revive you

There is bread to make you strong

There's a bed to rest till morning

Rest from pain, and rest from wrong

He let me eat my fill

I had the lion's share

The silver in my hand cost twice what I had earned

In all those nineteen years, that lifetime of despair

And yet he trusted me

The old fool trusted me, he'd done his bit of good

I played the grateful servant

Thanked him like I should

But when the house was still I got up in the night

Took the silver

Took my flight!

Tell His Reverence your story

Let us see if he's impressed

You were lodging here last night

You were the honest bishop's guest

And then out of Christian goodness

When he learned about your plight

You maintain he made a present of this silver -?

That is right.

But my friend, you left so early

Surely something slipped your mind

You forgot I gave these also

Would you leave the best behind?

So monsieur, you may release him

For this man has spoken true

I commend you for your duty

And God's blessing go with you

But remember this, my brother

See in this some higher plan

You must use this precious silver

To become an honest man

By the witness of the martyrs

By the passion and the blood

God has raised you out of darkness

I have bought your soul for God