American Mind

When I came home for the first time

From across the raging sea

My eyes fresh from the wreckage

But still blind enough to see

A stranger came to me in a Capotain

With mirrors on his coat

One hand nailed fast to a greased-up pole

And the other wrapped 'round my throat

  

When I came home for the first time

I was just shy of sixteen

With the shadows of my youth

Departing swiftly from the scene

Are those footsteps on a dead-end street

Falling softly out of rhyme

Or the stampede of holy innocents

Fleeing from another American Mind

 Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow

 Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow

 I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme

 But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind

 

When I came home for the first time

My father's poor face fell

And my heart fell too through the bottom of my shoes

Like a stone in a wishing well

And you who'd die to let freedom ring

Well, you're gonna have to get in line

There's a lot of little souls up ahead of you

Laying down for you American Minds

 Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow

 Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow

 I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme

 But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind

When I came home for the last time

A stranger met me at the gate

He said keep moving and don't look back

Pretty soon it's gonna be too late

But when heavens holy mansions

Are all bolted from within

And fortune twists upon the hook

Well then who's gonna take us in?

 Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow

 Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow

 I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme

 But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind

On the path to the ancient water

Two sets of footprints lead

Until only one remains

And that's where my god carried me

Or are those two lonesome boot-heels

In the frozen sands of time

Where he turned his back and left us

To carry on alone with our American Mind?

 Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow

 Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow

 I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme

 But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind