When I came home for the first time
From across the raging sea
My eyes fresh from the wreckage
But still blind enough to see
A stranger came to me in a Capotain
With mirrors on his coat
One hand nailed fast to a greased-up pole
And the other wrapped 'round my throat

When I came home for the first time
I was just shy of sixteen
With the shadows of my youth
Departing swiftly from the scene
Are those footsteps on a dead-end street
Falling softly out of rhyme
Or the stampede of holy innocents
Fleeing from another American Mind

Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow
Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow
I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme
But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind

When I came home for the first time
My father's poor face fell
And my heart fell too through the bottom of my shoes
Like a stone in a wishing well
And you who'd die to let freedom ring
Well, you're gonna have to get in line
There's a lot of little souls up ahead of you
Laying down for you American Minds

Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow
Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow
I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme
But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind

When I came home for the last time
A stranger met me at the gate
He said keep moving and don't look back
Pretty soon it's gonna be too late
But when heavens holy mansions
Are all bolted from within
And fortune twists upon the hook
Well then who's gonna take us in?

Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow
Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow
I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme
But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind

On the path to the ancient water
Two sets of footprints lead
Until only one remains
And that's where my god carried me
Or are those two lonesome boot-heels
In the frozen sands of time
Where he turned his back and left us
To carry on alone with our American Mind?

Oh and the road to heaven is paved with sorrow
Some folks are just dying just to get in, some'll have to face tomorrow
I wouldn't feel so bad if I didn't have to make it rhyme
But that's a small price to pay for the grace of God we love our American Mind