I walked by harborview hospital I heard the agnus dei Oh sister of mercy I've been gone too long to say And all around this place I was a sad disgrace
They're singing, they're singing Away up on the hill They're building, they're building A mystical union, beautiful and still But down here in the dirt they'll say it doesn't hurt
The devil's ascended Upon some crystal wings In the citadel lightning Splits a cloud of butterflies and fiends And with a vacant stare I'll leave a flower there
They're riding, they're riding A hellhound down the hill They're sinking, they're sinking Into the ocean, beautiful and still And yet it's hard to leave in wealth or poverty
I walked by harborview hospital And stopped at ninth and James Oh sister of mercy I've been down too far to say Are they supposed to be as sick as you and me?