I walked by harborview hospital
I heard the agnus dei
oh sister of mercy
Ive been gone too long to say
and all around this place i was a sad disgracetheyre singing, theyre singing
away up on the hill
theyre building, theyre building
a mystical union, beautiful and still
but down here in the dirt theyll say it doesnt hurtthe devils ascended
upon some crystal wings
in the citadel lightning
splits a cloud of butterflies and fiends
and with a vacant stare ill leave a flower theretheyre riding, theyre riding
a hellhound down the hill
theyre sinking, theyre sinking
into the ocean, beautiful and still
and yet its hard to leave in wealth or povertyI walked by harborview hospital
and stopped at ninth and james
oh sister of mercy
Ive been down too far to say
are they supposed to be as sick as you and me?