We live in a political world

We live in a political world,
love don't have any place-
We're living in times where men commit crimes -
and crime don't have a face.

We live in a political world,
Icicles are hangin down -
All the respectable ones sing,
The Righteous, they are cast to the ground!

We live in a political world,
Wisdom is thrown into Jail,
It rots in a cell, is mistreated as hell,
Leaving no one to pick up the trail.

We live in a political world-
Where Mercy walks the plank-
Life is in mirrors, death disappears
Up the steps into the nearest bank.

We live in a political world,
Where Courage is a thing of the past.
Houses are haunted, your children unwanted-
The next day may be your last!

We live in a political world,
the one you see and feel
Aint no one to check, it's all a stacked deck-
We know for sure, thats whats real!

We live in a political world,
the cities of lonesome fear
Little by little, you turn to the middle,
But, you're never sure that you're here.

We live in a political world,
Under the microscope
You can travel anywhere, and hang yourself there-
You always have more than enough rope.

We live in a political world,
Turning and thrashing about.
Soon as you're awake, you're trained to take-
What looks like the easy way out.

We live in a political world,
the rich they opress the poor,
They have the nerve to claim, God's name-
while to Mammon they whore!

We live in a political world,
God's Servant ain't welcome at all,
He's turned away from the door, made tro wander some more-
Till he's put up against the wall!

Transcribed from Bob Dylan concert by Steve Lamb , 1996
copyright Bob Dylan, 1989