A Man In A Purple Dress

(album: Endless Wire - 2006)

How dare you wear a robe to preside
How dare you cover your head to hide
Your face from God

How dare you smile from behind your beard
To hide the fact your heart's afeared,
And wave your rod

How dare you be the one to assess
Me in this godforsaken mess
You, a man, in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress

You are all the same
Gilded and absurd
Regal, fast to blame
Rulers by lost word
Men above men, or prats
With your high hats
You priest, you mullah so high
You pope, you wise rabbi
You're invisible to me
Like vapour from the sea

How dare you? Do you think I'll quietly go?
You are much braver than you know
For I can't die
Your staff, your stick, your special cap
They'll protect in Hell? What crap!
Believe the lie

How dare you be the one to assess
Me, in this godforsaken mess
You, a man, in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress

When you place your frown
Between my God and prayer
However grand your crown
Or dignified your hair
Men above men all prats
In your high hats

You priest, you mullah so high
You pope, you wise rabbi
You're invisible to me
Like vapor from the sea

I lovingly mock you noble lords
We all dress up to grant awards
I do that as well

I dare condemn your fashion sense
At least you're not astride a fence
That would not sell

But I will deliver this address:
Your soul's condition don't impress
You, a man in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress