A Long Time Away

Shuddering brakes

on the road to Jerusalem

It’s so easy to drift

when your eyes are so tired

And in the rush to the scene

you are one of the millions

In a dirty old town

that some killing made holy

Crying, give us the last rites

Or give us our dreaming,

Or give us the thunder’s rolling—ah!

Well, look around, old friend

Nothing is laid to rest

It just grows unattended

And you’ve been a long time away

A break in the clouds

like a crack in a cylinder

But now there’s blood on the beach

and a wreck in the water

And as the shadow arrives

on the face of your innocence

You feel the shock in your eyes

and a shaking in your own hands

And look around, old friend

You live under house arrest

And you sleep undefended

And you’ve been a long time away

Riding a wild life

But you let go of the reins

And you answer to me now

And you’ve been a long time away

And it never goes dark

Under these lights

It never goes cold

Under fire

Bring the drums

Bring the lights

Bring the wires