FREEDOM
                     by Neil Devore

The savage knows that Holy Joes
And emperors who wear new clothes
Never were the ones he chose
To teach him how to live

And heaven's just a siren's song
Enticing you to go along
And certainly the pull is strong
Of the solace it can give

But when you teach them to beseech
A man upstairs they cannot reach
The baleful sermon that you preach
Is empty and unfair

As long ago the Lizard King
Raised his voice to shout and sing
You cannot go petitioning
Your mythic lord with prayer

And we were never born to be remorseful
Or contrite about some vague primal sin
You need only strive to do no harm to what's alive
To be in touch with the light that shines within
You'll be aglow from the light that shines within

Any other rules are just too forceful
A crooked game that we can never win
You must merely care for one another
And the bountiful world upon which we spin
The beautiful world upon which we spin

When the scales drop from your eyes
And fall beneath the bridge of sighs
With no one there to hear your cries
You're beginning to breathe free

With no one there to criticize
To damn your eyes or demonize
You'll begin to realize
The way we're meant to be

Sweet music on a summer night
Seductive scent that wafts just right
A subtle hint of pledged delight
To set one's heart aflame

A stolen glance, a merry dance
So come young lovers grab your chance
At dizzying new found romance
Without a sense of shame

For we were never born to be remorseful
Or contrite about some vague primal sin
You need only strive to do no harm to what's alive
To be in touch with the light that shines within
You'll be aglow from the light that shines within

Any other rules are just too forceful
A crooked game that we can never win
You must merely care for one another
And the bountiful world upon which we spin
The beautiful world upon which we spin

So excuse me my apostasy
My rejection of theocracy
What need we of philosophy
To share some food and drink

Like hand in glove are peace and love
With no assistance from above
These are thoughts worth thinking of
When you take the time to think

When it's said and done, your race has run
I hope you'll know you had your fun
Golden days spent in the sun
With a sparsity of strife

Good friends relaxing on the grass
A touch of class, a parting glass
Nostalgic that this too must pass
Like all good things in life

And we were never born to be remorseful
Or contrite about some vague primal sin
You need only strive to do no harm to what's alive
To be in touch with the light that shines within
You'll be aglow from the light that shines within

Any other rules are just too forceful
A crooked game that we can never win
You must merely care for one another
And the bountiful world upon which we spin
The beautiful world upon which we spin