mason slamer thomas at the first stroke it will be 3 o clock precisely the day the earth caught fire we stood outside the world was laughing and in the city square they cast umbrellas to the sky the sun above my head was burning greedy red the horns began to blow three cheers for jericho the first evacuee i was headed for the sea i saw them the roadside refugees the boys with bloody knees who waved abandoned cars that lay too tired to drive away a world in flames today was all the papers had to say run for your life run for your life run run run run for your life run for your life run run run the streetcar prophet said you thought that god was dead i warned you the sinners and the saved they fell down to their knees and prayed believers held their breath and stoned a witch to death the leaders and the led said blow the bloody reds away run for your life run for your life run run run run for your life run for your life run run run