Empty Handed

East of Albion
where the sun comes up
O'er the field of battle
that tore asunder body and soul

Oh, Jerusalem
where did sin come from
to render unto Caesar
what Caesar plundered and stole

The camel and the needle's eye
Who by birth doth qualify?
The truth is told, so is the lie
from the inception

Why can't we remember
that we all return
empty handed

Down on Mission street
memory's erased
and history is buried
by everyone escaping their past

Oh, Magdelena
when your son comes up
and goes to seek his fortune
How long is his heart gonna last?

We all go out to stake a claim
Invoking some almighty name
Find somebody else to blame
for this deception

Why can't we remember
that we all return
empty handed

Looking out across that sea of red
where the Promised Land is said to be
There hypocrisy is born and bred
in the heat of revenge
and the cold wind of our fear

 

Why can't we remember
that we all return
empty handed