SHELTER FROM THE STORM

‘T was in another lifetime One of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue And the road was full of mud I've come in from the wilderness A creature void of form “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” And if I pass this way again You can rest assured I'll always do my best for her On that I give my word In a world of steel-eyed death, and men Who are fighting to be warm “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” Not a word was spoken between us There was little risk involved Everything up to that point Had even been resolved Try imagining a place Where it's always safe and warm “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” I was burned out from exhaustion Buried in the hail Poisoned in the bushes An' blown out on the trial Hunted like a crocodile Ravaged in the corn “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” Suddenly I turned around and She was standin' there With silver bracelets on her wrists And flowers in her hair She walked up to me so gracefully And took my crown of thorns “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” Now there's a wall between us Somethin' there's been lost I took too much for granted Got my signals crossed Just to think that it all began On a long forgotten morn “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” Well the deputy walks on hard nails And the preacher rides a mount But nothing realy matters much It's doom alone that counts And the one-eyed undertaker He blows a futile born “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” I've heard new-born babies wailin' Like a mornin' dove And old men with broken teeth Stranded without love Do I understand your question, man Is it hopeless and forlorn “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” In a little hill-top village They gambled for my clothes I bargained for salvation An' they gave me a lethal dose I offered up my innocence And got repaid with scorn “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm” Well I'm livin' in a foreign country But I'm bound to cross the line Beauty walks on a razor's edge Someday I'll make it mine If I could only turn back the clock To when God and her were born “Come in,” she said, “I'll give you shelter from the storm”