American Crucifixion Resurrection

(album: The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette - 1969)

The king is dead
Long live the king

Unbound slaves stand outside the gates
With lengths of broken chains they wait
Empty stomachs filled with hate

No one told the heads of state
The prince of peace is sleeping late

Who will wait of lords and ladies
Who will cry when they lose their mounts?

Sleeping through the hills of error
Waking in a reign of terror

Sleep, my baby sleep
Will you ever understand?
Once had a boy just like you
Once had my own to sing my troubles too
Once had a boy, I watched him grow
Once had my own, Lord I loved him so

I taught him to love
I taught him to care
I taught him to laugh
I taught him to share
I watched him see and understand
And when he was afraid, I held his hand

I gave him hope, I gave him pride
But then I gave him to the world outside

Hey boy, where you think you're going?
Hey boy, can't you read the signs
Hey boy, you're s'pposed to call me mister

I'm a man now, I'm a man just like you
So then you call me by my name
You better call me by my name

See him standing there outside the gate
His thoughts of meat confuses love with hate
Thinking I had joined the heads of state

No my son, you've got to wait
The prince of peace is not too late

I must stay with the lords and ladies
I must stay to protect their child
Rowing in a reign of terror
Maybe he will see his error

Sleep, my baby sleep
Love will make you understand
(Sleep, white baby sleep)
Sleep, white baby sleep
Love will make you understand