A Hanging Matter - In Legend

When the stranger came to town

He didn’t mean to cause disconcertment

He never really had a chance since

Nonconformity

Was their reason to break down

His well pleased independence

Cause it didn’t quite comply

With their own life-understanding

Look, he’s sent to the gallows

He stands up straight and sings:

Yeah —

Bless yourself

You’ll never take

Nor will you make

My spirit break

(And) all the people looking blank

Not a single soul objecting

As the freethinker’s head sank while

Re-established truth

Did stabilize their peace

Suppressing the distracting

But evil begets evil —

So they can’t suppress his tune

He stands up straight and sings —

Yeah —

Bless yourself

You’ll never take

Nor will you make

My spirit break

People that we are —

They are the people that we are —

The fuckin' people that we are…

And so he sings:

Can’t you —

Can’t you see that my heart’s so pure?

Yeah —

Bless yourself

You’ll never take

Nor will you make

My spirit break