mr. richards, your position
is a messenger pigeon
left behind you when the camp moved on

you thought that you had listened
but the words had never crystallized
into a truth that you might own, hey hey

mr. richards, your decision
pay attention, pay attention

mr. richards you're forgiven
for a narrow lack of vision
but the fires are still raging on

the public's got opinions
and these consequences border on
the compound that you razed where
"zealots" sang, hey, hey

mr. richards, your decision
pay attention, pay attention

so listen, your intention
sign the paper, stamp the ribbon
you're mistaken if you think we'll just forget.

you can thump your chest and rattle
stand in front of your piano
but
we know what's going on.
yes, we know what's going on
we're the children of the choir, hey.
and we know what's going on.

mr. richards, your conviction
had us cheering in the kitchen
now the jury's eating pigeon pie

so tell me, how is prison?
have they taught you how to listen?
we've begun to bridge the schism,
pay attention, pay attention.

mr. richards, your decision
pay attention, pay attention
you can thump your chest and rattle
stand in front of your piano
but
we know what's going on.
yes, we know what's going on
we're the children of the choir, hey.