'Twas in another lifetime one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue, the road was full of mud I came in from the wilderness a creature void of form "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." And if I pa** this way again you can rest a**ured I'll always do my best for her on that I give my word In a world of steel-eyed d**h and men who are fighting to be warm "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." Not a word was spoke between us there was little risk involved Everything up to that point had been left unresolved 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 and blown out on the trail 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 standing 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 something there's been lost I took too much for granted, I got my signals crossed Just to think that it all began on an uneventful 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 really matters much it's doom alone that counts And the one-eyed undertaker he blows a futile horn "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning 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 hilltop village they gambled for my clothes I bargained for salvation and she gave me a lethal dose I offered up my innocence, I got repaid with scorn "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm." Well I'm living in a foreign country but I'm bound to cross the line Beauty walks 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."