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