The prisoner,
he says he’s unhappy about God.
He says he doesn’t think
because of a soul
that is made in the image of God.
He says he perceives
because of nerve endings
that make images in his brain.

The prisoner,
he says science is wonderful
and will produce a new man.
He tells his holy brother
he’ll have to move out of the way
to make room for chemistry.
He says everything is chemistry,
and chemistry is everything.

The prisoner,
he says he understands all of this,
but he wants to know
what will happen to men—
the new men science will produce.
He’s worried about science
and what he doesn’t understand.

The prisoner,
he says that if there is no God
and no life beyond the grave
then men must be allowed
to do whatever they want.
And the new man will indeed
do whatever it is he wants.

The prisoner,
he hopes the new man,
will be more clever than he.
Because an intelligent man
can do whatever he wants
as long as he’s clever enough
to get away with it.

The prisoner,
he wasn’t clever enough.
It was all chemistry’s fault,
for the lies and lust,
the madness and murder.
Yet he worries about science,
and if chemistry is everything after all.

The prisoner,
worries about science
and what he doesn’t understand
as he rots before his grave
and the nothing that is beyond it
at the end of his godless life.

The prisoner,
he says he’s unhappy about God.
He says he misses Him.

The prisoner,
he says he’s found joy in God.
He says he will not suffer
because of any fear
behind these leprous walls.
He says that he will sing
because a sun has dawned upon him
that makes him feel alive.

The prisoner,
he says conviction is redeeming
and has freed a new man.
He tells his holy brother
he’ll surely find a way
to make room for loving.
He says everything is love,
and love is everything.

The prisoner,
he says he understands all of this,
but he wants to know
what will happen to the man—
the new man conviction has freed.
He wants to find a way,
to share what he’s come to understand.

The prisoner,
he says that if God was killed,
and no gift came from His grave,
then men would not be able
to find life in anything they do.
But the new man will indeed
find life in everything he does.

The prisoner,
he knows the new man
will be more giving than he.
Because a humbly gracious man
finds life in everything he does,
and as he gives to others
he gets what he truly needs.

The prisoner,
he is eager to give.
It’s because of his conviction,
he has freedom and joy,
strength and meaning.
He wants to share what he has found,
since love is everything after all.

The prisoner,
he fears nothing
and shares what he’s come to understand,
the gift that rose up from the grave
and the treasure we receive
when we’ve given God our lives.

The prisoner,
he says he’s found joy in God.
He says he loves Him!

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