He fell to his knees and he cried out for mercy Heart-felt confessionals to an angry mob But vengeance was theirs as they bellowed for justice "Death to the man who has sinned against God"
I joined in the chant feeling so high and mighty Pointing the finger from up on my throne 'Til I looked in his tears and I caught my reflection And I knew that I could not cast the first stone
Let the gavel fall slowly tho' truth's been revealed Sequester the jury for a moment to feel And in the courts of compassion I hope we can appeal To the better angels of our nature, to the better angels of our nature
I walked along on my soft streets of plenty She walked the alleys of anguish and need While clutching my greed I was struck by a vision But for the grace of God, that could be me
And we gather in chambers of lofty ideals Still debating the giving when handed the bill But in the congress of kindness I hope that we can yield To the better angels of our nature, to the better angels of our nature
Angels of mercy, angels of light Angels of darkness, angels of might Angels with voices that whisper so clear Who do I lean to, who do I hear?
We are building our world with a fevered emotion While trying to keep it from coming apart But as we reach for the dream can we still reach within us We won't have the hope if we don't have the heart
'Cause we've tossed in the gale of a moral decline As we drink from the grail of society's wine But at humanities table I hope we choose to dine With the better angels of our nature, With the better angels of our nature
