Will Oldham - IDEA AND DEED lyrics

(Will Oldham after Dick Gaughan version)

what's the winter's cold negative press

what's the spring with its air of rebirth

to those felled under wildest duress

trading freedom for a false sense of worth

let the love of our own sacred rites

to the love of our people succeed

let friendship and future unite

and flourish in idea and deed

let the costume distinguish the strong

place riches in lowest esteem

it's for excess that people do wrong

and to liberty honesties lean

letting one minute go on

without seeing yourself with an eye

that is watchful and kindly and strong

is as letting the soul drop and die