Hallelujah Song

(album: The Islander - 1998)

When the Pope kissed the ground
The sniper fired an angry round
Well it missed him by a whisker
And the gunman could not be found

They found a bullet in the chapel nearby
It was embedded in the altar stone
The statue Virgin upon the altar
Started bleeding on a Sunday

And so the faithful They came in thousands
From as far as the Phillipines
To pray for healing from the Virgin
And to kiss that bullet clean
Word got around about the Virgin

There were pilgrims There were tourists
Souvenirs and postcards
Plastic virgins and bullet roseries

And many cripples started walking
And the mute began to speak
And the skeptics kept on talking
It went on like this for weeks

Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah song
Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah

Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah song
Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah

Soon they found the statue shattered
A bloodied rifle among the pieces
Found the sniper above the altar
Dead and tangled in the attic

As they rifled through his jacket
A bloodied wallet identified him
And his surname was Emmanuel
His given name was Jesus

So they buried him in the Chapel
With the rifle by his side
And they bought another statue Virgin
With the proceeds from the healing
Now she stands upon the altar

Spring water runs from the bullet hole
Now the Chapel is a shrine
They use the water to make wine
Now when the Pope kisses ground
Bullet proof glass all around

And that's the story of the Virgin
Sniper Jesus and the faithful
That's the story of the Virgin
Sniper Jesus and the faithful
That's the story of the Virgin
Sniper Jesus and the faithful

Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah song
Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah

Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah song
Sing Hallelujah song
Hallelujah

Amen