lifeblood: songs: lyrics: pretty vision

i saw a vision
little boy
you covered up your own insights
but i may have held your hand
or seen the ghost you tried to fight

oh a vision
little boy
you strayed down to find the clowns
oh and when i wrote these lines for you
not, not one of them was found

blame the circus and the clowns
before you blame yourself
cause when your greatest needs go unforgiven
and your gifts go unreceived

little boy
man of need
who could know that the road would fall
not me not one of us
that surrounds your golden walls

so now blame the circus and the clowns
before you blame yourself
cause all your greatest needs go unforgiven
all your gifts go unreceived

who could know of the fall
who could slow the speed
who could hold your hand
we all laughed and thought you were so free

vision boy
man of need
oh do the monkeys get you down
oh they promise you the dance of life
complete with laughters crown

little boy
man of need
did you find the freak show and a crowd
i said cut the canvas on the tent
oh we were all innocent

blame the circus and the clowns
before you blame yourself
when your greatest needs go unforgiven
and your gifts go unreceived
oh your greatest needs go unforgiven
and your gifts they go unreceived

little boy
man of need

words and music by amy ray
as performed on may 30, 1989 in atlanta, georgia