Take your photographs from off the sill
Taste the salt of seven seas and love thy will
Empty out your parsonage
And empty out the orphanage
Please forget all that i've said in vain

You've loved me far too much
And thrashed me with tulips
And gave me all the confidence of spring
Spring spring spring the rite of spring

Who listens softly to me?
Who listens softly to me?
'cause once you're loud you'll always be

Place your hand upon your brow at rest
What is your place among the living dead?
You can make the world you see
You can make a man of me
You can make whatever fills your heart

I used to write in silhouette
Filling up the filament
Of skies burned black by what was almost done
When summer comes what's done is done
Who listens softly to me?
Who listens softly to me?
'cause once you're loud you'll always be

Empty is the nest that I hold
Bitter is the heart for love what must be told
To any other desert here
To a word so cavalier
To a breath that's held beyond its wish

There's no such thing as government
But they tell me I'm full of it
I stand where I stand until I fall
Fall, fall, fall we almost fall

Who listens softly to me?
Who listens softly to me?
'Cause once you're scared you'll always be

Blessed is the babe that walks true
Gifted is the sage who knows it's all no use
You can't lead a horse to drink
You can't lead a mind to think
Whatever is is whatever's meant to be

I'm lasting for a death of fits
Until it comes I'm suspect
On the lam, shivering with cold
Winter comes to take my soul
Who listens softly to me?
Who listens softly to me?
'cause once you're scared you'll always
Once you're loud you'll always
Once you're me you're always me