Letter to Lady J

My dear old friend, it's you we need

There's blood in the gutters and fear in the street

How long we fight for a change that never comes

Oh, in some ways it's the same

But tonight the crowd, they came

Fists in the air, candles and vigils

Cracked dreams held together with curses and wishes

But how long's it been since you've been outside?

How long's it been since you open your eyes?

'Cause I've been to the line and it's alright there

And I cannot wait to get on from here

Arms bent back and black jack welt

Involuntary tears and the tears we felt

Does it always have to get worse before it gets better?

Oh, in some ways it's the same

But tonight the crowd, they came

Fists in the air, candles and vigils

Cracked dreams held together with curses and wishes

But how long's it been since you've been outside?

And how long's it been since you open your eyes?

'Cause I've been to the line and it's alright there

And I cannot wait to get on from here

Oh, Virgil Caine, where are you now?

Did they bury the hate when they buried the South?

You got to tell the spirit mystics of tomorrow

That in some ways it's the same

But tonight the crowd, they came

Fists in the air, candles and vigils

Cracked dreams held together with curses and wishes

But how long's it been since you've been outside?

How long's it been since you open your eyes?

I've been to the line and it's alright there

And I cannot wait to get on from here