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 grift 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