Stranger Lay Beside Me

I was bad, I was good

Running wild through the woods

While the branches above me were burnin'

I was breathing the smoke

I was startin' to choke

When a stranger lay beside me

I was lost, I was found

You were hangin' around

Moving slowly but headed for glory

I was healed, I was hurt

I was sinnin' in church

When a stranger lay beside me

I was snuffed, I was stoked

There was love in us both

And a buzzard was circlin' the valley

I was chaff, I was wheat

I was bone, I was meat

When a stranger lay beside me

I was close, I was far

Feral cats in the car

And a crack in the roof that kept drippin'

I was numb when I smiled

I was built and defiled

When a stranger lay beside me

And the Moon rose again

And the snake shed its skin

Every hand in the city was shakin'

We were kissed, we were clawed

Given just to be robbed

'Cause we needed the love we were makin'

I was present and gone

Said farewell and so long

Then came back 'cause the street was too empty

I was nursin' a bruise

I thought for sure it was you

When a stranger lay beside me

I was strong, I was weak

All the hens were asleep

And the hawk's only kind cause he's hungry

I was sold, I was bought

I was promised a lot

When a stranger lay beside me

I was wrong, I was right

You were poised in the light

Both as evil as ever, and holy

I was bitten and chewed

Bound and gagged on the truth

When that stranger lay beside me

I was soft, I was hard

The sky heavy with stars

Never meant to surrender their meaning

I was love, I was hate

Stuffed and licking my plate

When a stranger lay beside me

I was chided and cheered

We were reeking with fear

That the world might return for it's mercy

I was mended and torn

I was killed and reborn

When a stranger lay beside me

And the Moon rose again

And the snake shed it's skin

And the back of the city was breaking

We both took to it well

Blind and feeling ourselves

But we needed the love we were making

I was captured and free

The Sun set through the trees

And time beat on the length of my body

I was taught, I was teased

In the nature of things

When a stranger lay beside me