Jokerman - Infidels Alternate Take

Standing on the waters, casting your bread

While the eyes of the idol

With the iron head are glowin'

Distant ships sailing into the mist

You were born with a snake in both of your fists

While a hurricane was blowing

Freedom, just around the corner for you

But with truth so far off, what good will it do?

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune

Bird fly high by the light of the moon

Oh-oh, Jokerman

So swiftly, the sun sets in the sky

You rise up and say goodbye to no one

No store-bought shirt for you on your back

One of the womens must sit in the shack

And sew one

Shedding off one more layer of skin

Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune

Bird fly high by the light of the moon

Oh-oh-oh, Jokerman

You're a man of the mountains

You can walk on the clouds, manipulator of clouds

You're a dream twister

You're going to Sodom and Gomorrah

But what do you care?

Ain't nobody there who'd want to marry your sister

Scratching the world with a fine-toothed comb

You are king among nations

You are a stranger at home

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune

Bird fly high by the light of the moon

Oh-oh, Jokerman

Now, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy

The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers

No crystal ball do you need on your shelf

Michelangelo himself could've carved out your features

So drunk, standing in the middle of the street

Directing traffic, with a small dog at your feet

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune

Bird fly high by the light of the moon

Oh, Jokerman

Well, the preacherman's talking about the deaf and the dumb

And the world to come has already been predetermined

Nightsticks, water cannons, tear gas, padlocks

Molotov cocktails and rocks can't drown out his sermon

You let the wicked walk right into a trap

You give away all the good things that fall in your lap

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune

Bird fly high by the light of the moon

Oh, Jokerman

It's a shadowy world, skies are slippery gray

A woman just gave birth to a prince today

And she's dressed in scarlet

He'll turn priests into pimps, and make old man bark

Take a woman that could've been Joan of Arc

And turn her into a harlot

Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants

Oh, Jokerman, you don't show any response

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune

Bird fly high by the light of the moon

Oh, Jokerman