I remember the promise
that you made in the barn
when the kittens were born
and you could not keep warm
so you moved away the mountain
that the sun rose behind
and you said yourself a prayer
and laid down with the blind
but you lost them in your freedom
and you need him now you're wild
blessed is the memory
of everybody's child

And the vow of compassion
that you swore through your teeth
when the war began to end
and the photographs weep
well nobody blames you
as the train pulls away
with its cargo of snow
for these German paper-weights
but you lost them in your freedom
and you need him now you're wild
blessed is the memory
of everybody's child

Well it's five in the morning
there's no one at home
except for your wife
and your child on the phone
somebody's got to listen
to a promise or two
oh, this room is far too small
for a pilgrim like you
but you lost them in your freedom
and you need him now you're wild
blessed is the memory
of everybody's child

So now that you've decided
to follow the sun
like a shadow of birds
or a king on the run
oh, your chains are too dark
for the seas you must swim
you're smiling at the seaweed
but your smile is too grim
oh, you lost them in your freedom
you need him now you're wild
blessed is the memory
of everybody's child
blessed is the memory
of everybody's child
blessed is the memory
of everybody's child