Anaïs Mitchell
Hymn for the Exiled
[Verse 1]
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
The word came down to him from heaven
And naked as an animal he knew
Everything of flesh and bone
He could call it all his own
If he could name it, he could lay claim to it too

[Verse 2]
But after all the word was spoken
You sent him out into the open
All alone to make his broken promise whole again
Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve
Did you see how far he fell
Did you watch him covering his body in his shame?

[Chorus]
And wanting you near him
Though you couldn’t hear him while he was falling down
With your name in his mouth

[Verse 3]
A thousand thousand years pass through me
Stoned on loneliness and movies
Where people make their love in foreign tongues
Every family locks their door
Every man in uniform
Reminds me of the body of my own one
[Verse 4]
I knew you before I met you
I’ve forgotten why I left you
All I wanna do is get back in, to your good grace
Call you by your hundred names
'Til it makes you mine again
'Til I get my will back in this godforsaken place

[Chorus]
I want you near me
And I know you can’t hear me now but I’m falling down
Your name, I want you near me
I wish you could hear me now while I’m falling down
With your name in my mouth