Something broke through the brindled soil Rattling the gra** Spittin' like coal My spade came down across his spine A terrible fear flew across his eyes I said we both have lives that we are owed You can own an acre, but not what it grows I gave no heed when I got in Had bread and tea and then the beast got skinned Diamond skin on a hickory post Blowin' like a curse in the knee high rows I never in my life had seen The kind of rain we got that spring A flood washed up every rainbow snake And I was soon begging them to let me stay They gave no heed when I got in They said You can hunt hares in our garden You can hunt hares in our garden Who will love a loveless thing Betrayed by God, exiled by beast I can hear you in the floorboards deep in the night You could have freed me and redeemed your life