The Man Comes Around

there's a man going around taking names

and he decides

who to free and who to blame

everybody won't be treated

all the same

there'll be a golden ladder

reaching down

when the man comes around

the hairs on your arm

will stand up

at the terror

in each sip and in each sup

will you partake of

that last offered cup

or disappear into the potter's ground

when the man comes around

hear the trumpets hear the pipers

one hundred million angels singing

multitudes are marching

to the big kettledrum

voices calling voices crying

some are born and some are dying

it's alpha and omega's kingdom come

and the whirlwind

is in the thorn tree

the virgins are all trimming their wicks

the whirlwind

is in the thorn tree

it's hard for thee to kick

against the pricks

till armageddon

no shalam no shalom

then the father hen

will call his chickens home

the wise man will bow

down before the thrown

and at his feet

they'll cast their golden crowns

when the man comes around

whoever is unjust

let him be unjust still

whoever is righteous

let him be righteous still

whoever is filthy

let him be filthy still

listen to the words long written down

when the man comes around

hear the trumpets hear the pipers

one hundred million angels singing

multitudes are marching

to the big kettledrum

voices calling voices crying

some are born and some are dying

it's alpha and omega's kingdom come

and the whirlwind is in the thorn tree

the virgins are all trimming their wicks

the whirlwind is in the thorn tree

it's hard for thee to

kick against the pricks

in measured hundred

weight and penny pound

when the man comes around