Red Cow (Golden Calf Version)

Lyrics

Before the Red Sea flood Beneath a cornhusk dawn We bid the Elkhorn run To a locomotive psalm Until the pale horse comes Along a rail withdrawn Clanging loudward on Clanging loudward on We bid the Elkhorn run Until the red cow comes I was a steadfast son With thoughts and hooves divided And on the arid ground Of thirsty Zion's hill Cold waters tumbled down Where the staff of Moses fell What Pharaoh spell What picture holds us now? Over the land we knew Before the frog withdrew In the fragrant pomegranate blooms Where the tender locust flew Behind the milk-tank cars Behind the milk-white tombs We passed the North Platte yard On silver tracks in gloom Out past the black sheep herds Out to the outcast birds In the rust of open wagons Saw the Blessed Virgin's form We watched the green figs fall From the Nebraska sky How much were even passive things Responsive to our watchful eye And let there be no doubt: So many pictures hold us In the wells of livestock vans With shells and sidewalk sand Behold the snake of brass Behold a golden calf