Boy Cried Wolf - Patti Smith

Oh the story’s told been told retold

From the sacred scriptures to the tabloids

All the fuss and fight none above a whisper

The soul of gold the belly of a boy

Well they drew him from the forest

Like they draw blood

Tied him to a tree like St. Sebastian

And he turned his head and let the arrows fly

Through the trees, the trees

The ornamental leaves

Boy cried wolf

Wolf don’t come

Wolf within

Boy cried wolf

In the ancient mold they’re dancing down

Calling to the moon but it don’t answer

And they fell on their knees

And passed the bowl around

And the blood the blood the sacramental blood

Boy cried wolf

Wolf don’t come

Wolf within

Boy cried wolf

I am the body I am the stream

I am the wake of everything

They bring me flowers that are myself

Garlands of blood that are myself

Slain the lamb that is himself

Torn reborn the cries of our dismay

Are nothing to the wind but whose to mind

Kings are lifted up and kings are thrown

Lost received retrieved

The human tide

Innocence had its day

Innocence had its day

Innocence innocence