Natalie Merchant - Bread And Circuses lyrics

[Verse 1:] Crowds gather round Kneeling at the feet of common thieves Hungry for the word but God would never speak through such as these Such as these Who offer healing hands and balms And redemption If you would cross their palms They'll tell your troubles to the lord For how ever much you can afford Hands holding hands in the circle Of the sinners and the saved Memories that linger from the cradle Placing puzzles in the grave In the grave No mortal skin and bone Can live on bread and circuses alone The spirit needs must drive The mystery of why we are alive [Chorus:] They look in their book and they read But their cold hearts say, "follow me" [Verse 2:] Dance in the dust In the frenzy of the desperately in need Led by the voices of the men Who invoke ritual to hide their greed Hide their greed Come every tongue, every eye Across the crumbling earth and cracking sky The gates of hell stand open wide but The path of glory you walk single file [Chorus] [Verse 3:] These men make a cage For the very souls that came here to be free Then they turn off their lights, fold their tents They're fixing to leave [Chorus] [Outro:] They'll close their book and leave But you'll remain Still in pain