Practicing Freedom

It was a beautiful night when you walked away from me and I swore I would never forget
Your finger on my lips and my heart in your mouth and you already turning away
You said love has made us lie love has made us terrified love must bow to fate
It was a beautiful night when you walked away from me
You were just practicing freedom

When you signed the order and called out the soldier bearing a lock and key
You thought it would be a sign to tame the haughty and teach the conquered peace
The crowd outside chants for truth chants for democracy chants for the king of thieves
And signing the order and calling out the soldier
You were just practicing freedom

There was blood on the wall there was screaming in the hall and you said so this is war
There were pictures in the paper excuses on the radio and your good name on the floor
Now all the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t put reality back together again
The blood on the wall the screaming in the hall
You were just practicing freedom

It was a beautiful night when you walked away from me and I swore I would never forget
The way you turned away from me surrendered quietly saying here I am
And knowing what it would mean the flogging and the tree the sacrificial lamb
It was a beautiful night when you walked away from me
But you were just practicing freedom