On Parole/The Bishop

Freedom is mine
The earth is still
I feel the wind
I breathe again
And the sky clears
The world is waking

Drink from the pool, how clean the taste
Never forget the years, the waste
Nor forgive them for what they've done
They are the guilty, everyone
The day begins, and now let's see
What this new world will do for me

You'll have to go, I'll pay you off for the day
Collect your bits and pieces there and be on your way
You have given me half what the other men get
This handful of tin wouldn't buy my sweat
You broke the law, it's there for people to see
Why should you get the same as honest men like me?

And now I know how freedom feels, the jailer always at your heels, it is the law
This piece of paper in my hand that makes me cursed throughout the land, it is the law
Like a cur, I walk the street
The dirt beneath their feet

Come in, Sir, for you are weary
And the night is cold out there
Though our lives are very humble
What we have, we have to share
There is wine here to revive you
There is bread to make you strong
There's a bed to rest 'til morning
Rest from pain and rest from wrong

He let me eat my fill, I had the lion's share
The silver in my hand cost twice what I had earned
In all those 19 years, that lifetime of despair
And yet he trusted me
The old fool trusted me, he'd done his bit of good
I played the grateful serf and thanked him like I should
But when the house was still, I got up in the night
Took the silver, took my flight

Tell His Reverence your story
Let us see if he's impressed
You were lodging here last night
You were the honest Bishop's guest
And then, out of Christian goodness
When he learned about your plight
You maintain he made a present of this silver
That is right

But, my friend, you left so early
Surely something slipped your mind
You forgot I gave these also
Would you leave the best behind?
So, Messieurs, you may release him
For this man has spoken true
I commend you for your duty
And God's blessing go with you

But remember this, my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the Passion and the Blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God