Oh, the story's told, been told, retold
From the sacred scriptures to the tabloids
All the fuss and fight none above a whisper
From the soul of gold to the belly of a boy
Well they drew him from the forest
Like they draw blood
Tied him to a tree like St. Sebastian
And he turned his head and let the arrows fly
Through the trees, the trees
The ornamental leaves
[Chorus:]
And the boy cried wolf
Wolf don't come
Wolf within
Boy cried wolf
In the ancient mold where they're dancing down
Calling to the moon but it won't answer
And they fell on their knees
Passed the bowl around
And the blood, the blood
The sacramental blood
[Chorus]
I am the body, I am the stream
I am the wake of everything
They bring me flowers that are myself
Garlands of blood that are myself
Praying for the lamb that is myself
Slaying the lamb that is myself
They drew him from the forest
Like they draw blood
Tied him to a tree like St. Sebastian
And he turned his head and let the arrows fly
Through the trees, the trees
The ornamental leaves
[Chorus]
I don't care
I don't know
I don't mind
I don't mind
Torn, reborn
The cries of our dismay
Are nothing to the wind but whose to mind
Kings are lifted up and kings are thrown
Lost, retrieved, received the human tide
Innocence had its day
Innocence had its day
Innocence, innocence