Come and smear me with the branches
Of that tree
Hyssop dipped in innocent blood
To make me clean
And let an old man's broken bones
Once more rejoice
Absalom
You were, my little boy

Chorus

Absalom. Absalom
My son, my son, my son
Caught in the tangles of deceit
Hanginig lifeless from that tree
Absalom, Absalom
My son. my son, my son
Caught by the tangles of your hair
The fruit of my own sins to bear Oh, Absalom

You were the laughing boy who bounced
Upon my knee
You learned to play the harp
And use the shepherd's sling
Always watching me
My impressionable son
Oh Absalom, what have I done

You were watching when I took A good man's wife
And gave the orders for his murder
Just to rover up the crime
All the vanity, cruel arrogance, and greed
Absalom
You learned it all from me


Chorus