Suzanne Vega - Speakers' Corner

I have a newfound sympathy For the madman in the square Who rants and raves his rhetoric Into the midday air His heartfelt pleas and arguments But the sense no longer there The sound ascends to Heaven Like the incense in a prayer The speaker's corner, there it stands In politics or song For trying everything you feel Whether it is right or wrong The doomsday prophet Whose words have all come true The naysaying soothsayer So cynical and blue Has now become more like a child Bewildered and confused But I keep on believing It's what I know how to do The speaker's corner, there it stands In politics and song When it's time to tell your tale Don't wait to long All those full of wind and air Who howl and rant and rave Screaming out distorted facts About the souls they save Promising the miracles And pocketing the cash Pretending they have principles Preaching only ash And it grieves me to see people on parade Parroting the things they hear Never think to be afraid The speaker's corner, there it stands In politics and song I guess we better use it now Before we find it gone