THE BALLAD OF WISDOM'S PREY

At the end of a railroad track out among the farms
Lies a maze of old stone buildings where I came to harm
I believe my mother loved me I believe my father cared
But when the doctor talked they listened and they sent me way out here
He said I could not learn the things I'd need to take my part
I looked and acted different I'd only break their hearts

Let us out let us out let us all go free
You have no right to hold us so let us all go free

So I grew up in this prison somebody called a school
In a room with thirty-seven beds and twelve times that many rules
A lock on every window locks on the doors in the halls
There were doors and padlocks everywhere except on the bathroom stalls
And the clothes that my mother sent were thrown in a drawer with the rest
And the toys that me father brought I never saw again

Nine years old was the first time they locked me in that room
For two long days and two long nights it was darker than a tomb
I was thirteen when they forced the pills down into my throat
And I gave up everything I had I even gave up hope

Let us out let us out let us all go free
You have no right to hold us so let us all go free

One day when I was fourteen Mary came and took my hand
And I heard them whisper to her now don't upset our plan
But she treated me with kindness she laughed when I smiled
And they talked and talked into her ears but she was not reconciled
She brought shoes for my feet a pencil for my hand
And their words turned to warnings that she could not withstand
And one day when I was fifteen we went outside for a walk
She had a message in her hand she sat down on a rock
And she cried when she read it and then she took my hand
And she went away that evening and she never came back again

And when I grew to manhood they strapped me to a bed
With buckles on my ankles and wires to my head
And they beat me when I fell down they slapped me when I stood
And they gave me a plastic penny when they said that I'd been good
And I thanked them for their kindness I thanked them for their time
And I thanked them for their guidance though I did not know my crime


Let us out let us out let us all go free
You have no right to hold us so let us all go free


You may think these words are not my own you shake your head and jeer
But every word is written in my heart it's you who cannot hear
Is your world so perfect does your world run so smooth
Is there no room for accident is there no room for truth
Is there no room for justice is there no room to be free
Is there room for no one but yourselves is there no room for me

Let us out let us out let us all go free
You have no right to hold us so let us all go free