Shelter from the Storm

Twas in another lifetime
One of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue
And 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

If I pass this way again
You can rest assured
I'll always do my best for her
On that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death
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 its 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
An 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 standin' 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
Somethin' there's been lost
I took too much for granted
Got my signals crossed
Just to think that it all began
On a long-forgotten 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
Its 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 wailin'
Like a mournin' 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
An they gave me a lethal dose
I offered up my innocence
And got repaid with scorn
Come in, she said
I'll give you shelter from the storm

Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country
But Im bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razors 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