Absalom, Absalom

Come and smear me With the branches from that tree Hyssop dipped in innocent blood To make me clean Let an old man's broken bones Once more rejoice Absalom, you were my little boy Absalom, Absalom My son, my son, my son Caught in the tangles of deciept Hanging lifeless from that tree Absalom, Absalom My son, my son, my son Caught in the tangles of your hair The fruit of my own sin to bear Oh Absalom You were the laughing boy Who bounced upon my knee You learned to play the harp And use the shepherd's sling Always watching my impressionable son Absalom, what have I done You were watching When I took a good man's wife And gave the order for his murder Just to cover up my crime All the vanity, cruel arrogance and greed Absalom, you learned it all from me