I used to play the harp in the St. Joe's Band
And blow my lungs out for salvation
"Suck those reeds, boy, and be a man
And wait in Hell for an ovation"

God left me peace, left me free, let me be
Left me swinging in the breeze
Like a coward on my knees
Unpeacefully retreating

I used to play the harp in a garage band
For the bullies and all their marijuana
White boys' blues are all second-hand
But blow it hard when you got 'em
Blow it in the coves In the ditches, in the streams
In the cemeteries where the statues never bleed
And the gravel pit that fluttered with the steam shovels covered
By the water and the danger and the weeds
And the parties in the basements of all the broken homes
Of the girls whose fathers are gone and had to roam
Gotta roam, gotta roam
Gotta roam, gotta roam

God left me peace, left me free, let me be
Left me swinging in the breeze
Like a coward on my knees
Unpeacefully retreating
God left me peace, left me free, let me be
Left me swinging in the breeze
Like a flicker through the trees
Unpeacefully retreating
I used to play the harp in the St. Joe's Band
Blow my lungs out for salvation
I wanna get paid like any man
And find my heaven waiting
Take all your bullshit when you make a stand
And your big house burns down slowly
A thousand souls of the faithful wake
To haunt your house unholy
Go away, go away, you holy ghost
Take your party out to the coast
I can't be your gracious host
I don't play the harmonica

God left me peace, left me free, let me be
Left me swinging in the breeze
Like a flicker through the trees
Unpeacefully retreating
God left me peace, left me free, let me be
Left me swinging in the breeze
Like a coward on my knees
Unpeacefully retreating
Retreating