Music

Strike While the Iron Is Hot   Run Time: 3:52

Written by Bill Mallonee for Irving Music, Inc., Allegiance Music, Russachugama Music and CyBrenJoJosh (BMI) ©1990, 1992

there's a poor man in my gutter
mr three piece at my window
cut to the core of the problem
but he hung up the phone
these days i feel so impotent
these days i'm so depressed
i got hate mail coming to my door
via federal express

one thing daddy told me
and i think about it a lot
he said "son you've got to strike
while the iron is hot"

there's a blind dog ambling
down the side of the road
most folk around here
they drive pretty slow
now i don't know whether to weep
and i don't know whether to laugh
but that hound dog and destiny
swerved into my path

my friend jonny drives a bread truck
he's in love with the metaphor
he's been reading lots of books
about the rise and fall of culture
making his observations
he's got notebooks full of them
and he's gonna do something drastic
and i cannot say i blame him

one thing daddy told me
and i think about it a lot
he said "son you move your head
when it's on the chopping block"

i went back to see my doctor
see what was making me ill
he said "i've seen this kind of think before
something moving in for the kill
you gotta go under the knife
and swallow a bitter pill
you know redemption don't come easy
somebody gotta suffer bill"

serve you right serve you right
serve you right to suffer

black crow been flying around
my house for seven days
five scarecrows in the cornfield
won't make 'em go away
members of the Trinity
just dropped by as guests
they said "enough of the pleasantries
we got a warrant for your arrest"

mr three piece at my window
he wants me to butter up his bread
he said "would i lie to you kid"
well let me think about it "i don't know" i said
goodness mr three piece
your heart it feels like ice
and that man on the corner
he might be Jesus Christ

Did You Know?

An alternate opening to this song which Bill has used in concert, goes like this:

there's a poor man in my gutter
mr. three piece at my window
called up my record label president
but he slammed down the phone

It has also been reported that Bill will include a "John the Revelator" chorus with this tune when played live.

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