But he'll be heard anyway
Maybe the poet is drugged
But he won't stay under the rug
Maybe the voice of the spirit
In which case you'd better hear it
Maybe he's a woman
Who can touch you where you're human
Male female slave or free
Peaceful or disorderly
Maybe you and he will not agree
But you need him to show you new ways to see
Don't let the system fool you
All it wants to do is rule you
Pay attention to the poet
You need him and you know it
Put him up against the wall
Shoot him up with pentothal
Shoot him up with lead
You won't call back what's been said
Put him in the ground
But one day you'll look around
There'll be a face you don't know
Voicing thoughts you've heard before
Male female slave or free
Peaceful or disorderly
Maybe you and he will not agree
But you need him to show you new ways to see
Don't let the system fool you
All it wants to do is rule you
Pay attention to the poet
You need him and you know it
Toronto January 1982
Maybe the poet is gay But he'll be heard anyway Maybe the poet is drugged But he won't stay under the rug Maybe the voice of the spirit In which case you'd better hear it Maybe he's a woman Who can touch you where you're human Male female slave or free Peaceful or disorderly Maybe you and he will not agree But you need him to show you new ways to see Don't let the system fool you All it wants to do is rule you Pay attention to the poet You need him and you know it Put him up against the wall Shoot him up with pentothal Shoot him up with lead You won't call back what's been said Put him in the ground But one day you'll look around There'll be a face you don't know Voicing thoughts you've heard before Male female slave or free Peaceful or disorderly Maybe you and he will not agree But you need him to show you new ways to see Don't let the system fool you All it wants to do is rule you Pay attention to the poet You need him and you know it Toronto January 1982 Explain Request ×
Lyrics taken from
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