A Principled Man

[Image: 'I Predict 1990' Front Cover]

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Lyrics

Under a flag
They sword a bond
Caught under fire they ran

Are you the one
Standing your ground?
Are you a principled man?

Followers fall
Blinded by kings
Lost in the lie of the land

Are you the one
Sworn to be true?
Are you a principled man?

Now... begin
Come alongside it
Seize the wind
Come along, ride it
One day it will be you believing
There is a principled man

Who goes there?
Do you belong, lad?
You know there
Is a new dawn, and
One day to say stick with me, baby
I am a principled man

Many's the man
Grounded by greed
Leaning on power and land

Show me the one
Lost in the stars
Show me a principled man

Now... begin
Seize the wind

Who goes there?
Do you belong, lad?
You know there
Is a new dawn, and
One day to say stick with me, baby
I am a principled man

Bleeding and hushed
Hung between thieves
There the foundation began
Are you the one
Taking your cross?
Are you a principled man?

Under a flag
They sword a bond
Caught under fire they ran

Are you the one
Standing your ground?
Are you a principled man?

Followers fall
Blinded by kings
Lost in the lie of the land

Are you the one
Sworn to be true?
Are you a principled man?

Many's the man
Grounded by greed
Leaning on power and land

Show me the one
Lost in the stars
Show me a principled man

Recorded Appearances

Albums

Bootlegs

About The Song

From Clone Club News Flash Winter 1988, Winter 1988:

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the cousnel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is the law of the Lord, and in His law He meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2).

From Now The Truth Can Be Told Liner Notes & Song-By-Song Essays, Now The Truth Can Be Told Insert Booklet, August 23rd, 1994:

Ah, to have the Bible's sense of balance.

My goal with "A Principled Man" was to write a song that inspired me to live a principled life. The seed came from a "tree motif" in the book of psalms: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water..." (Psalms 1:1-3)

But lest principles become an end unto themselves, we have in Ezekiel the dark side of the tree metaphor: "Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Because it towered on high, lifting its top above the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height...I cast it aside." (Ezekiel 31:10-11)

This song still inspires me. May it continue to do so for all the right reasons.