these are the days of the open hand
they will not be the last 
look around now
these are the days of the beggars 
and the choosers

this is the year of the hungry man 
whose place is in the past
hand in hand with ignorance
and legitimate excuses

the rich declare themselves poor 
and most of us are not sure
if we have too much
but we'll take our chances
because God stopped keeping score
I guess somewhere along the way
He must have let us all out to play
turned his back and all God's children 
crept out the back door

chorus
and it's hard to love, 
there's so much to hate
hanging on to hope
when there is no hope to speak of
and the wounded skies above
say it's much too late
well maybe we should all be 
praying for time 

these are the days of the empty hand
oh you hold on to what you can
and charity is a coat you wear 
twice a year

this is the year of the guilty man
your television takes a stand
and you find that what was over there
is over here

so you scream from behind your door
say what's mine is mine and not yours
I may have too much 
but I'll take my chances
because God stopped keeping score
and you cling to the things 
they sold you
did you cover your eyes when 
they told you
that he can't come back
because he has no children
to come back for

chorus