Youre tired and youre poor, you long to be free
But in this God-forsaken land you find no home, no family
On the many roads that you wandered since the day of your birth
Youve become one of the Last, Lonely, and Wretched.
Your hair is matted, your face and hands are dirty
And the years that youve toiled must number somewhere near thirty
The deepening of a sadness broke finally into madness
You are truly one of the Last, Lonely, and Wretched.
Your eyes are wild and frightening, at the same time they are blessed
And I wonder if God died, turned his back, or only just rested
As you walked out on the seventh day, through the big gates and on your way
To become one of the Last, Lonely, and Wretched.
For once you were a child, your cheeks were red, you were well fed,
You laughed and played till you got teary, ran to your mother when you were weary
But somehow you were forsaken, alone Ill not bear the blame
And somewhere all was taken, your mind, your body, your name
Forgive us our unkindness, our desertion, and our blindness
To you, the Last, Lonely, and Wretched
Forgive us, all the Last, Lonely, and Wretched.
Joan Baez
Copyright 1970 by Chandos Music
ASCAP 3:42
