Shelter from the Storm

It was in another lifetime, one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured I'll always do my best for her, on that I give my word In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to stay warm "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved Everything up to that point had been left unresolved Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm Come in, and I will give you shelter from the storm You were burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail Poisoned in the bushes, blown out on the trail Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn Come in, and I will give you shelter from the storm Suddenly, I turned around and she was standing there With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair She walked up to me gracefully, took my crown of thorns "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Now there's a wall between us, something there's been lost I took too much for granted, I got my signals crossed Just to think that it all began on some long forgotten morn "Come in," I said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" Well, the deputy walks on hard nails, the preacher rides a mount But nothing really matters much, it's doom alone that counts The one-eyed undertaker, he blows his futile horn "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" I've heard newborn babies wailing like a mourning dove And old men with their broken teeth stranded without love Do I understand your question, man, it's hopeless and forlorn "Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm" In a little hilltop village, they gamble for your clothes You'll bargain for our salvation, and they give you a lethal dose You'll offer up your innocence and get repaid with scorn Come in, I will give you shelter from the storm Now I'm living in a foreign country, but I'm bound to cross the line Beauty walks a razor's edge, someday I'll make it mine If I could only turn back the hands of time to when you and God were born I know that I could give you shelter from the storm Come in and I will give you shelter from the storm