The Prodigal Son
Young man—
Young man—
Your arm’s too short to box with God.
But Jesus spake in a parable, and he said:
A certain man had two sons.
Jesus didn’t give this man a name,
But his name is God Almighty.
And Jesus didn’t call these sons by name,
But ev’ry young man,
Ev’rywhere,
Is one of these two sons.
And the younger son said to his father,
He said: Father, divide up the property,
And give me my portion now.
And the father with tears in his eyes said: Son,
Don’t leave your father’s house.
But the boy was stubborn in his head,
And haughty in his heart,
And he took his share of his father’s goods,
And went into a far-off country.
There comes a time,
There comes a time
When ev’ry young man looks out from his father’s house,
Longing for that far-off country.
And the young man journeyed on his way,
And he said to himself as he travelled along:
This sure is an easy road,
Nothing like the rough furrows behind my father’s plow.
Young man—
Young man—
Smooth and easy is the road
That leads to hell and destruction.
Down grade all the way,
The further you travel, the faster you go.
No need to trudge and sweat and toil,
Just slip and slide and slip and slide
Till you bang up against hell’s iron gate.
And the younger son kept travelling along,
Till at night-time he came to a city.
And the city was bright in the night-time like day,
The streets all crowded with people,
Brass bands and string bands a-playing,
And ev’rywhere the young man turned
There was singing and laughing and dancing.
And he stopped a passer-by and he said:
Tell me what city is this?
And the passer-by laughed and said: Don’t you know?
This is Babylon, Babylon,
That great city of Babylon.
Come on, my friend, and go along with me.
And the young man joined the crowd.
Young man—
Young man—
You’re never lonesome in Babylon.
You can always join a crowd in Babylon.
Young man—
Young man—
You can never be alone in Babylon,
Alone with your Jesus in Babylon.
You can never find a place, a lonesome place,
A lonesome place to go down on your knees,
And talk with your God, in Babylon.
You’re always in a crowd in Babylon.
And the young man went with his new-found friend,
And bought himself some brand new clothes,
And he spent his days in the drinking dens,
Swallowing the fires of hell.
And he spent his nights in the gambling dens,
Throwing dice with the devil for his soul.
And he met up with the women of Babylon.
Oh, the women of Babylon!
Dressed in yellow and purple and scarlet,
Loaded with rings and earrings and bracelets,
Their lips like a honeycomb dripping with honey,
Perfumed and sweet-smelling like a jasmine flower;
And the jasmine smell of the Babylon women
Got in his nostrils and went to his head,
And he wasted his substance in riotous living,
In the evening, in the black and dark of night,
With the sweet-sinning women of Babylon.
And they stripped him of his money,
And they stripped him of his clothes,
And they left him broke and ragged
In the streets of Babylon.
Then the young man joined another crowd—
The beggars and lepers of Babylon.
And he went to feeding swine,
And he was hungrier than the hogs;
He got down on his belly in the mire and mud
And ate the husks with the hogs.
And not a hog was too low to turn up his nose
At the man in the mire of Babylon.
Then the young man came to himself—
He came to himself and said:
In my father’s house are many mansions,
Ev’ry servant in his house has bread to eat,
Ev’ry servant in his house has a place to sleep;
I will arise and go to my father.
And his father saw him afar off,
And he ran up the road to meet him.
He put clean clothes upon his back,
And a golden chain around his neck,
He made a feast and killed the fatted calf,
And invited the neighbors in.
Oh-o-oh, sinner,
When you’re mingling with the crowd in Babylon—
Drinking the wine of Babylon—
Running with the women of Babylon—
You forget about God, and you laugh at Death.
Today you’ve got the strength of a bull in your neck
And the strength of a bear in your arms,
But some o’ these days, some o’ these days,
You’ll have a hand-to-hand struggle with bony Death,
And Death is bound to win.
Young man, come away from Babylon,
That hell-border city of Babylon.
Leave the dancing and gambling of Babylon,
The wine and whiskey of Babylon,
The hot-mouthed women of Babylon;
Fall down on your knees,
And say in your heart:
I will arise and go to my Father.
poem by James Weldon Johnson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Babylon Sisters
Drive west on sunset
To the sea
Turn that jungle music down
Just until were out of town
This is no one night stand
Its a real occasion
Close your eyes and youll be there
Its everything they say
The end of a perfect day
Distant lights from across the bay
Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me Im the only one
Here come those santa ana winds again
Well jog with show folk on the sand
Drink kirschwasser from a shell
San francisco show and tell
Well I should know by now
That its just a spasm
Like a sunday in t.j.
That its cheap but its not free
That Im not what I used to be
And that loves not a game for three
Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me Im the only one
My friends say no dont go
For that cotton candy
Son youre playing with fire
The kid will live and learn
As he watches his bridges burn
From the point of no return
Babylon sisters shake it
Babylon sisters shake it
So fine so young
Tell me Im the only one
song performed by by Steely Dan
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Child Of Babylon
(coverdale/marsden)
When I heard the sound of thunder
On the day that I was born,
I was blinded by the lighting
An baptised in the storm
My father started crying
When he saw what he had done,
But, my mother started praying
Have mercy on my son,
He is a child of babylon
I am a child of babylon,
Lord have mercy on a wayward son
Nowhere to hide, nowhere to run
I am a child,
A child of babylon
When Ive fooled around so many times
When Ive known it aint been right,
But, I paint it all in colours
When it really should be black and white
I sail my ship through muddy waters,
Try to open every door,
When I saw the seven wonders
It left me wanting more
I am a child of babylon,
Lord have mercy on a wayward son
Nowhere to hide, got no place to run
I am a child,
A child of babylon
On my day of judgement
I know how it will be,
Im prepared to meet my maker
With no hope for charity
Ill stand alone and pay the price
For everything Ive done,
cos there aint guardian angel
For a child of babylon
I am a child,
A child of babylon
I am a child of babylon,
Lord have mercy on a wayward son
Nowhere to hide, got no place to run
I am a child,
A child of babylon
Child of babylon
song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Month Messiah
I'm just a pilgrim here looking for holy ground
I'm just a body lost but my soul can be found
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
I don't know where to turn when answers all fade clear
But I must find a place there's only questions here
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
I feel...feel like I'm on trial
Who made a judge of you
Are you this month's messiah
I am a fightin' man tired of living under the gun
But am I looking for love or am I looking to run
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
I heard...I heard it on the wire
That it's all up to you
Are you this month's messiah
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
song performed by by Nazareth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Months Messiah
Im just a pilgrim here looking for holy ground
Im just a body lost but my soul can be found
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
I dont know where to turn when answers all fade clear
But I must find a place theres only questions here
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
I feel...feel like Im on trial
Who made a judge of you
Are you this months messiah
I am a fightin man tired of living under the gun
But am I looking for love or am I looking to run
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
I heard...i heard it on the wire
That its all up to you
Are you this months messiah
How many miles to go
How many miles to babylon
(mccafferty, agnew, charlton, sweet)
1984 fool circle music
song performed by by Nazareth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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where are your powers Babylon?
Illustrious Babylon
where are your powers now?
city of fame
city of gold and silver
city of a famous name
where are your powers now?
city of wonders
empire of sin
Babylon
city of ruins
mighty Babylon
city of prowess
empire of old
empire of supremacy
rich with stolen gold
where are you now?
city of the hanging gardens
city holding the righteous captive
where are your powers Babylon?
city of desolate wastes
ferocious Babylon
look out over the valley
Cyrus the great of Persia
with his army of men
and Darius the Mede
with his army of men
diverting the great river Euphrates
and sneaking under your walls
your 'impenetrible walls
Babylon
city of ruins
Where are your powers
King Nebuchadnezzar?
your colossal gate is open
your subjects are drunk
drunk with wine and blood
unaware of approaching destruction
living their normal course of life
where are you now Babylon?
heaped in ruin and desolation
...forever
now just a dry desert plain
and the wind goes...hush...
poem by Allen Steble
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Babylon
Babylon has fallen! Aye; but Babylon endures
Wherever human wisdom shines or human folly lures;
Where lovers lingering walk beside, and happy children play,
Is Babylon! Babylon! for ever and for aye.
The plan is rudely fashioned, the dream is unfulfilled,
Yet all is in the archetype if but a builder willed;
And Babylon is calling us, the microcosm of men,
To range her walls in harmony and lift her spires again;
The sternest walls, the proudest spires, that ever sun shone on,
Halting a space his burning race to gaze on Babylon.
Babylon has fallen! Aye; but Babylon shall stand:
The mantle of her majesty is over sea and land.
Hers is the name of challenge flung, a watchword in the fight
To grapple grim eternities and gain the old delight;
And in the word the dream is hid, and in the dream the deed,
And in the deed the mastery for those who dare to lead.
Surely her day shall come again, surely her breed be born
To urge the hope of humankind and scale the peaks of morn --
To fight as they who fought till death their bloody field upon,
And kept the gate against the Fate frowning on Babylon.
Babylon
poem by Alfred George Stephens
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Babylon
Forever, youll be remembered as the one who played it cool
Whenever they speak your name theyll say its you who broke the golden rule
But heres what I really want to know
Did you see the writing on the wall
Chorus:
Babylon
How long can this foolish magic carry on
Babylon
Who will love you when the fantasy of youth is gone
Babylon is it true that your streets were paved with gold
And did you play beneath the stars
Babylon did you know it would all come down to
How you played the dealers cards
Remember how you loved the laughter
A kingdom on the rise
Crys in the night would turn you to song
And when they call ooh you sang along
Heres what I really want to know
Did you see the writing on the wall
Babylon
How long will this foolish magic carry on
Babylon
Who will love you when the fantasy of youth is gone
Babylon is it true that your streets were paved with gold
And did you play beneath the stars
Babylon did you know it would all come down to
How you played the dealers cards
Its over you rate two pages in some book
Your legacy
Lost in the night and still you sing your song
For those who will take heed
Heres what I really want to know
Did you see the writing on the wall
Babylon
How long will this foolish magic carry on
Babylon
Who will love you when the fantasy of youth is gone
Babylon is it true that your streets were paved with gold
And did you play beneath the stars
Babylon did you know it would all come down to
How you played the dealers cards...
song performed by by Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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By The Rivers Dark
By the rivers dark
I wandered on.
I lived my life
In babylon.
And I did forget
My holy song:
And I had no strength
In babylon.
By the rivers dark
Where I could not see
Who was waiting there
Who was hunting me.
And he cut my lip
And he cut my heart.
So I could not drink
From the river dark.
And he covered me,
And I saw within,
My lawless heart
And my wedding ring,
I did not know
And I could not see
Who was waiting there,
Who was hunting me.
By the rivers dark
I panicked on.
I belonged at last
To babylon.
Then he struck my heart
With a deadly force,
And he said, this heart:
It is not yours.
And he gave the wind
My wedding ring;
And he circled us
With everything.
By the rivers dark,
In a wounded dawn,
I live my life
In babylon.
Though I take my song
From a withered limb,
Both song and tree,
They sing for him.
Be the truth unsaid
And the blessing gone,
If I forget
My babylon.
I did not know
And I could not see
Who was waiting there,
Who was hunting me.
By the rivers dark,
Where it all goes on;
By the rivers dark
In babylon.
song performed by by Leonard Cohen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Up From Under
Well Im down here in the well
Looking back up at the hill
Well I thank heavens I fell
Must look more
Like myself
Now everyone is so kind
Everyone looks like
A long lost friend of mine
Im on top of the world again
When Im looking
Up from under babylon
I had a home in the fields
Earned my wage in the factories there
And I was raised by the mill
And I worked with my brothers there
I told my mother Id always write
I headed west for the coast
With the big city lights
Now mamma Im so sorry Ive forgotten
But now Im looking
Up from under babylon
Now tell me how far Ive been
And how deep was I in
Tell me how I conceived
The vanity to believe
That I would not be outnumbered
By the thumbs I have been under
Now stray dogs in the street
Learn how to beg, steal, borrow and cheat
And in the dead summer heat
I fell asleep with blood on my teeth
But those days before I met you girl
Were just ice cream falling down
On the shoes of my world
Im so happy that youre my friend
When were looking
Up from under babylon
When were looking
Up from under babylon
song performed by by Wallflowers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Up From Under
Well Im down here in the well
Looking back up at the hill
Well I thank heavens I fell
Must look more
Like myself
Now everyone is so kind
Everyone looks like
A long lost friend of mine
Im on top of the world again
When Im looking
Up from under babylon
I had a home in the fields
Earned my wage in the factories there
And I was raised by the mill
And I worked with my brothers there
I told my mother Id always write
I headed west for the coast
With the big city lights
Now mamma Im so sorry Ive forgotten
But now Im looking
Up from under babylon
Now tell me how far Ive been
And how deep was I in
Tell me how I conceived
The vanity to believe
That I would not be outnumbered
By the thumbs I have been under
Now stray dogs in the street
Learn how to beg, steal, borrow and cheat
And in the dead summer heat
I fell asleep with blood on my teeth
But those days before I met you girl
Were just ice cream falling down
On the shoes of my world
Im so happy that youre my friend
When were looking
Up from under babylon
When were looking
Up from under babylon
song performed by by Wallflowers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Babylon Feeling (feat. Carlos Santana)
My heart is broke, my will is gone
Fell in love with a woman named Babylon
She hook me to the gills
All of her forbidden thrills
I call her baby for short then I ramble on
She'll forget about me
My soul is high, my mind is free
Met a shorty with some back call her destiny
She showed me all my fates
My stream of conscious navigates
I orbit around the sun at high velocity
Don't forget about me
Don't forget about sweet things
Won't you save my soul
Pretty lady, won't you take me home
Sweet things
Won't you save my soul
Pretty lady, won't you take me home... tonight
My arms are heavy, my body's tense
Got the hots for this honey named confidence
She points out all of my flaws
Breaking all of her favorite laws
Never speaks a word in my defense
Just forget about me
My spirit's weak, my lust will thrive
Got a thing for this bitch
Said her name is a lie
She controls me with her fear
My prayers fall on her cold deaf ear
She says have a good time and take your dive
Just forget about me
Just forget about
Sweet things, won't you save my soul (Yeah)
Pretty lady, won't you take me home
Sweet thing won't you save my soul (Yeah)
Pretty lady won't you take me home... tonight
I've got a Babylon feelin'
I've got a Babylon feelin'
I've got a Babylon feelin'
I'm feelin' Babylon
My heart is broke, my will is gone
Fell in love with a woman named Babylon
She hook me to the gills
All of her forbidden thrills
I call her baby for short, then I ramble on
And I ramble on
I've got a Babylon feelin'
I've got a Babylon feelin'
I've got a Babylon
Feelin', Feelin', Feelin', yeah
I've got a Babylon
Feelin', Feelin', Feelin', yeah
I've got a Babylon
Feelin', Feelin', Feelin', yeah
I've got a Babylon
Feelin', Feelin', Feelin', yeah
song performed by by Everlast
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Babylon III
The rebellious religions of Babylon,
You knew your wives and they conceived and bored you children!
But i am now alone in Babylon searching for my way out,
And your wives will surely take care of your many children!
Oh Babylon! !
The time has come for you to repent;
For sadness is found in the land of your muse,
And i will surely find my way home someday.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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If You're Traveling Through Babylon
If you're traveling through Babylon,
Keep your respect in check.
Keep your inner vision there protected.
And...
Don't try to reflect what is best.
And if you're traveling through Babylon,
You'll see many people there neglected.
But,
Keep this in perspective...
You are not of it.
You're only in it...
And for a 'minute'.
If you're traveling through Babylon...
Don't let you jaw drop.
With your eyes bugged out.
You may see many people there...
Who don't respect or even care.
You may see them swapping mates for sex.
But don't be sold to get naked and sweat.
Remember you're in Babylon.
Where the people turn their lies on.
If you're traveling through Babylon...
Don't let you jaw drop,
With your eyes bugged out.
You may see many people there...
Who don't respect or even care.
You may see them swapping mates for sex.
But don't be sold to get naked and sweat.
Remember you're in Babylon.
Where the people turn their lies on.
And if you're traveling through Babylon,
You'll see many people there neglected.
But,
Keep this in perspective...
You are not of it.
You're only in it...
And for a 'minute'.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Gates Of Babylon
Look away from the sea
I can take you anywhere
Spend a vision with me
A chase with the wind
Move closer to me
I can make you anyone
I think youre ready to see
The gates to babylon
The power of what has been before
Rises to trap you within
A magic carpet ride a genie maybe more
A city of heavenly sin
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil, the devil will take you away
Oh gates of babylon
You can see but youre blind
Someone turned the sun around
But you can see in your mind
The gates of babylon
Youre riding the endless caravan
Bonded and sold as a slave
A saber dance removing all the veils
Getting as good as you gave
A saber dance removing all the veils
Getting as good as you gave
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil, the devil will take you away
Look away from the sea
I can take you anywhere
Spend a vision with me
A chase with the wind
Move closer to me
I can make you anyone
I think youre ready to see
The gates of babylon
The power of what has been before
Rises to trap you within
A magic carpet ride a genie maybe more
A city of heavenly sin
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil, the devil will take you away
Black gates of babylon
The devil is me
And Im holding the key
To the gates of sweet hell
Babylon
song performed by by Rainbow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Babylon Feeling
Feat. carlos santana
My heart is broke, my will is gone
Fell in love with a woman named babylon
She hook me to the gills all of her forbidden thrills
I call her baby for short then I ramble on
Shell forget about me
My soul is high, my mind is free
Met a shorty with some back call her destiny
She showed me all my fates, my stream of conscious navigates
I orbit around the sun at high velocity
Dont forget about me, dont forget about
Sweet things wont you save my soul
Pretty lady, wont you take me home x2...tonight
My arms are heavy, my bodys tense
Got the hots for this honey named confidence
She points out all of my flaws, breaking all of her favorite laws
Never speaks a word in my defense, just forget about me
My spirits weak, my lust will thrive
Got a thing for this bitch said her names a lie
She controls me with her fear, my prayers fall on her cold deaf ear
She says have a good time and take your dive
Just forget about me, just forget about
Sweet things, wont you save my soul (yeah)
Pretty lady, wont you take me home
Sweet thing wont you save my soul (yeah)
Pretty lady wont you take me home...tonight
Ive got a babylon feelin, Ive got a babylon feelin
Ive got a babylon feelin, Im feelin babylon
My heart is broke, my will is gone
Fell in love with a woman named babylon
She hook me to the gills, all of her forbidden thrills
I call her baby for short then I ramble on, and I ramble on
Ive got a babylon feelin, Ive got a babylon feelin
Ive got a babylon feelin, feelin, feelin, yeah x4
song performed by by Everlast
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rivers Of Babylon
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion.
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion.
When the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
Now how shall we sing the lords song in a strange land
When the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Requiering of us a song
Now how shall we sing the lords song in a strange land
Let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight
Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion.
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion.
By the rivers of babylon (dark tears of babylon)
There we sat down (you got to sing a song)
Ye-eah we wept, (sing a song of love)
When we remember zion. (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
By the rivers of babylon (rough bits of babylon)
There we sat down (you hear the people cry)
Ye-eah we wept, (they need their God)
When we remember zion. (ooh, have the power)
song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Destruction Of Jerusalem By The Babylonian Hordes
They left their Babylon bare
Of all its tall men,
Of all its proud horses ;
They made for Lebanon.
And shadowy sowers went
Before their spears to sow
The fruit whose taste is ash,
For Judah's soul to know.
They who bowed to the Bull god,
Whose wings roofed Babylon,
In endless hosts darkened
The bright-heavened Lebanon.
They washed their grime in pools
Where laughing girls forgot
The wiles they used for Solomon.
Sweet laughter, remembered not !
Sweet laughter charred in the flame
That clutched the cloud and earth,
While Solomon's towers crashed between
To a gird of Babylon's mirth.
poem by Isaac Rosenberg
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rastaman Chant (feat. Busta Rhymes And Flipmode Squad)
[Traditional; arranged: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Livingston]
Hear the words of the Rastaman say:
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down;
Babylon, you throne gone down."
Said I hear the words of the Iyaman say:
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down;
Babylon, you throne gone down."
---
/Short instrumental break/
---
And I hear the angel with the seven seals say:
"Babylon throne gone down, gone down;
Babylon throne gone down."
---
/Short instrumental break/
---
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home);
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home).
One bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
---
/Short instrumental break/
---
One bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
One bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
Say one bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
song performed by by Bob Marley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In The Middle Of Madness
(instrumental intro)
Dont you really love her, dont you really care
Youve been looking forever, how did she get you there
In the middle of madness, when all has gone
In the middle of madness, she walks, she breathes babylon
Isnt she so pretty, isnt she so fine
Havent you been blessed to hold her all the time
In the middle of madness, when all has gone
In the middle of madness, she walks, she breathes babylon
(cant figure out this part)
(instrumental)
Have you found a heaven, try to see the worth,
Looking at the future, shes right here on earth
In the middle of madness, when all has gone
In the middle of madness, she walks, she breathes babylon
In the middle of madness, when all has gone
In the middle of madness, she walks, she breathes babylon
(fade out)
song performed by by Ufo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Herbal Mystic
Rastaman, fight them back
With a heart attack.
Lick them back,
Like them beat you down.
Brace your loins, like a king
And let the natty blow in the winds.
Dread, burn Babylon
With a herbal mystic,
Mystic!
Mystic!
They killed The Savior,
Born in a manger.
Killed the prophets,
With hatchets.
And the liars are still standing.
The oppressor man
Still grand-standing.
So Bungoman say:
'You want to kill Ital,
make it swift
because this dread
is not adrift'.
Rastafari!
Rastafari!
Jesus is not dead.
Rastafari!
Rastafari!
Jesus is a Dread,
Dread!
Dread!
I can see Babylon burning.
I can see Babylon turning,
Turning red,
Red!
Red!
Red!
poem by Buxton Shippy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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