Appointment in Samarra

Johnny saw the guns and the bombs A police state being formed The evidence laid before his eyes The left and right being polarized He saw the shadow on the land He would not speak or make a stand Subtle pressure growing in the street Living free, but you're living discreet He wanted refuge, he wanted escape He was no masked man, no crusading cape He'd heard of green hills far away Far away in Samarra Johnny saw the guns and the bombs A police state being formed And he said, and he said I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there Suzi'd been around for a while She'd lost here charm The warmth in her smile Mistress of a lifetime peer With glittering eye and the social veneer He made his fortune and all of his fame Playing well in a greedy game They had friends in useful places Silent partners and famous faces Pulling the plums out of the mess With secrecy, high handedness Penthouse living fully-equipped Looking out on the world like a sinking ship It didn't matter what happened outside She'd made all her plans, a place to hide She said, she said I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there Innocence is no excuse The devil is out, he's out on the loose Innocence is no protection Blind eye turning to the infection Caught up in a daily scream Life sometimes is so extreme You're reading the papers You're watching the news They're robbing the bodies They're stealing the shoes Aversion will claim you like a knife Apathy maim you all of your life You've got to be strong, it's all you have Believe in life more than the grave Innocence is no excuse The devil is out, he's on the loose You can't say, you can't say I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there I will ride toward Samarra And death will not find me there