see the father's barn burning
watch as the flames
illuminate the sky
see the boy who set the fire
watch the barn burning

in his eyes in his eyes
hear the cattle calling out
into the night
they crowd against the fence
until it breaks
and as it breaks
the arson shakes
know that it's life
and nothing more

see the boy obey the father
stuffing the crying
kittens in a sack
hear the father curse the boy
and whip him with a switch
across the back across the back
see them standing on
the bridge at twilight
they tie it to a rock
and let it go
and through the tears
it disappears
and now he knows
it's life and nothing more

and through the tears
it disappears
the path is cut the way is clear
it's up the stairs
and through the door
he finds the matches in a drawer
into the barn he lights the hay
it catches quick
can't find his way
through the burning ash
and blinding smoke
he stumbles and begins to choke
a just reward a settled score
and now he knows
it's life and nothing more