For years we've fought the night
With pale and ghostly flames
Some still dream of light,
Say the sun will rise again
But we kill our needs for alms
With cool and measured crime
We learn to drift and palm
From our hearts and from our minds
But let us not be faithless,
For you will meet our needs
Thy good and gracious word
Is a lamp unto our feet
For years we've closed our eyes
While rust on reason grows
We feed and clothe our lies
But in our hearts we know
That wisdom lends us all a cool and steady hand
But the steel pressed to my palm
Doesn't make me more a man
Courage, Father, give us to do what must be done
To deal out truth and justice with swift and sober guns
For years you've met our thirst,
Still deserts we have roamed
But we'll be done dust with dirt
When the ocean calls us home
We'll fall into the arms
Of a cool and sweet embrace
Under stars and waving palms
We'll shed our sin like snakes
And time will cease to stalk us
And death will be undone
And we'll shine with the light of
A thousand blazing suns
With pale and ghostly flames
Some still dream of light,
Say the sun will rise again
But we kill our needs for alms
With cool and measured crime
We learn to drift and palm
From our hearts and from our minds
But let us not be faithless,
For you will meet our needs
Thy good and gracious word
Is a lamp unto our feet
For years we've closed our eyes
While rust on reason grows
We feed and clothe our lies
But in our hearts we know
That wisdom lends us all a cool and steady hand
But the steel pressed to my palm
Doesn't make me more a man
Courage, Father, give us to do what must be done
To deal out truth and justice with swift and sober guns
For years you've met our thirst,
Still deserts we have roamed
But we'll be done dust with dirt
When the ocean calls us home
We'll fall into the arms
Of a cool and sweet embrace
Under stars and waving palms
We'll shed our sin like snakes
And time will cease to stalk us
And death will be undone
And we'll shine with the light of
A thousand blazing suns