I ran to my father yet he would not have me Ran to my mother, she showed me such shame Ran to the mirror where my brother haunts me Ran to the harbor to watch the incoming rain
I follow the map, it ran down my backside Helpless in that as I charted my course Here from the seaside I can see the desert Headed out east with a dollar in my purse
Let the rain wash away, amen I will hold my brother's hand And if I am guilty of too much sin Let the rain wash away, amen
Further inland I came to this small town Masters won't stand an ignorant child Went from a traveler to master's possession Taught me to fight and then they taught me to kill
Every night except for the sabbath I was content to fight round for round First there was laughter and the marks on my backside Then there was silence and a body on the ground
Let the rain wash away, amen I will hold my brother's hand And if I am guilty of too much sin Let the rain wash away, amen
I dreamt of the desert, along my backside Dreamt of the forest, along my back Dreamt of the waters, along my backside Dreamt of the gardens, along my back
Seventeen lashes along my backside I can see mountains, along my back Seventeen lashes along my backside Seventeen rages I have made
My master's hand, how softly I hold it As he stares up with them cataract eyes Packed my belongings and left for my desert The road it is cluttered with my master's cries
Soon I will find the gates to my garden Then I will shed this manger frame I'll find my brother come hell or high water Renewed in purpose and then renewed in name
Let the rain wash away, amen I will hold my brother's hand And if I am guilty of too much sin Let the rain wash away, amen