I believe that you heard your master sing

When I was sick in bed

I suppose that he told you everything

That I keep locked away in my head

Your master took you traveling

Well, at least that's what you said

And now do you come back to bring

Your prisoner wine and bread



You met him at some temple

Where they take your clothes at the door

He was just a numberless man in a chair

Who had just come back from the war

And you wrap up his tired face in your hair

And he hands you the apple core

Then he touches your lips, now so suddenly bare

Of all the kisses we put on sometime before



And he gave you a German shepherd to walk

With a collar of leather and nails

And he never once made you explain or talk

About all of the little details

Such as who had a worm and who had a rock

And who had you through the mails

Now you love is a secret all over the block

And it never stops not even

When your master fails



And he took you up in his aeroplane

Which he flew without any hands

And you cruised above the ribbons of rain

That drove the crowds from the stands

Then he killed the lights in a lonely lane

And an ape with angel glands

Erased the final wisps of pain

With the music of rubber bands



And now I hear you master sing

You kneel for him to come

His body is a golden string

That your body is hanging from

His body is a golden string

My body has grown numb

O now you hear you master sing

Your shirt is all undone



And will you kneel beside this bed

That we polished so long ago

Before you master chose instead

To make my bed of snow

Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red

And you are speaking far too low

No, I can't make out what your master said

Before he made you go



And I think you're playing far too rough

For a lady who's been to the moon

I've lain by this window long enough

You get used to an empty room

And your love is some dust

In an old man's cuff

Who is tapping his foot to a rune

And your highs are a ruin

you want too much

Let's say you came back sometime too soon



I loved your master perfectly

And I taught him all that he knew

He was starving in some deep mystery

Like a man who is sure what is true

And I sent you to him with my guarantee

I could teach him something new

And I taught him how you would long for me

No matter what he said, no matter what you do



I believe that you heard you master sing

While I was sick in bed

I'm sure that he told you everything

I must keep locked away in my head

Your master took you traveling

Well, at least that's what you said

And now do you come back to bring

Your prisoner wine and bread