I used to dance in the Evergreen Garden
Where the Gardener played music and sang
But I ran away from the Evergreen Garden
I’m lost and I can’t find my way.
The pure snow was sleeping, the fence-lights were twinkling,
The Gardener sang his sweetest songs.
I twisted and tumbled and still sprang up singing,
The world was all rights and no wrongs.
Till I came to a cavern outside of the Garden
And played in the mud with my hands.
The Gardener hurried and came near to cleanse me
But I kicked him and bit his hand.
Bit his hand! Bit his hand!
I left him when I bit his hand.
I wish I could dance in the Evergreen Garden,
But the dirt and the filth cling to me.
I’ll never go back to the Evergreen Garden,
Down here I can never be free.
I came to the cave and descended down deeply,
My music became the bats’ wings.
My cold body shudders, my stomach is starving,
My heart is too bitter to sing.
I’m buried down here in rocky pitch-darkness,
I’ve sunk far too low to be saved.
The shadows and silence will be my pallbearers,
I’ve laid myself down in my grave.
But now I see a light and it’s piercing the darkness,
A scar-covered hand takes my own.
A voice says, “Come quickly, don’t fear now, my child.”
For I’ll make your hands like the snow.
Like the snow! Like the Snow!
I’ll make your hands white like the snow.
And we’ll dance again in the Evergreen Garden,
Much better than what was before.
Yes, we’ll dance again in the Evergreen Garden,
And far greater joy we will know.
And far greater joy we will know.”