Martyr of the Free Word

Speaking interpretation A conversation can take a sudden turn And reaching the point of violence Because your silence left you without a hand to hold Your past will lead you on to make... Making a final judgement Based on your bias will never bring you forward Terror should never guide you For even the fearful can take a beating in the end Suspicion gets you nowhere Those who denounce a way of life Will stand alone Left to atone their social blunders If you gun down the messenger You guarantee that he will be made Into a saint A martyr of the free word I will say I will say what I think I will do I will do what I say When liberty seems out of reach We'll fight for our freedom of speech Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis [Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon them. - From The Roman Rite liturgy] Missing a simple context A mental weakness can throw you out of balance Listen, respect each other Then you'll discover It mustn't always end in hate It's not too late for mercy Those who denounce a way of life Will stand alone Left to atone their social blunders If you gun down the messenger You guarantee that he will be made Into a saint, A martyr of the free word. I will say. I will say what I think. I will do. I will do what I say. When tolerance seems out of sight, We will fight... When liberty seems out of reach, We'll fight for our freedom of speech.