Bert Jansch - Promised Land

Well, I had a dream the other night
I thought that I saw Jesus in the pale moonlight

But maybe I could be mistaken
He would not smile upon me nor take my hand

Well I stand here all alone deep in the darkness
Saint Peter bars the way into the promised land

An angel calls my name from deep beneath the earth
Come give to me your soul I'll tell you what it's worth

I've been a drunken fool I've broken every rule
I know what seems to be right turns out to be wrong

Don't let my soul be damned, oh God, I do confess
Don't let me suffer here the Devil wants my soul

If I could ask of you a simple question
I do not want to bug you nor waste your time

I sit here drinking among my fellow men
They all seem happy to me, what is their sin?

There lies a secret pool, alive with fish and oh
A serpent hangs above and darts out his tongue

Pray tell me who you are, what is your memory?
Don't you know that sinners fear my flickering tongue

I dreamed that I did drink from that bubbling spring
And all I've ever known I was soon to forget