Shelter from the Storm

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'Twas in another lifetime,
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one of  toil and blood
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When blackness was a virtue 
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and the road was full of mud
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I came in from the wilderness, 
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a creature void of form.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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And if I pass this way again, 
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you can rest assured
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I'll always do my best for her, 
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on that I give my word
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In a world of steel-eyed death,
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and men who are fighting to be warm.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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Not a word was spoke between us,
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there was little risk involved
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Everything up to that point 
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had been left unresolved.
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Try imagining a place
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where it's always safe and warm.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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I was burned out from exhaustion, 
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buried in the hail,
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Poisoned in the bushes
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an' blown out on the trail,
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Hunted like a crocodile, 
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ravaged in the corn. 
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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Suddenly I turned around 
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and she was standin' there
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With silver bracelets on her wrists 
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and flowers in her hair.
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She walked up to me so gracefully 
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and took my crown of thorns.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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Now there's a wall between us,
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somethin' there's been lost
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I took too much for granted, 
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got my signals crossed.
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Just to think that it all began
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on a long-forgotten morn.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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Well, the deputy walks on hard nails 
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and the preacher rides a mount
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But nothing really matters much, 
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it's doom alone that counts
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And the one-eyed undertaker, 
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he blows a futile horn.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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I've heard newborn babies wailin' 
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like a mournin' dove
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And old men with broken teeth
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stranded without love.
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Do I understand your question, man,
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is it hopeless and forlorn?
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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In a little hilltop village, 
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they gambled for my clothes
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I bargained for salvation 
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an' they gave me a lethal dose.
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I offered up my innocence 
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and got repaid with scorn.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."

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Well, I'm livin' in a foreign country 
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but I'm bound to cross the line
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Beauty walks a razor's edge, 
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someday I'll make it mine.
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If I could only turn back the clock
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to when God and her were born.
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"Come in," she said,
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"I'll give you shelter from the storm."