on tomorrow's painted wagon, in a yester-dreamin day
i rode to heaven never thinkin i'd be back this way
now i'm standin at your doorstep with my halo turnin grey
open up your gate, marianna

lay me down in the dark womb of your love
mother i sought the chosen people, but i found no one to comfort me
lay me down in the dark womb of your love
mother i climbed the highest steeple, i found nothin to believe

when they called my faults against the wall i took my place in line
and put my trust in priestly men to break the ties that bind
but their straight and narrow highway's just a row of billboard signs
open up your gate, marianna

lay me down in the dark womb of your love
mother i sang the sacred psalter but no savior came to comfort me
lay me down in the dark womb of your love
i went naked to the altar, i found nothin to believe

so i set my feet to walkin from the sidewalk to the sand
in search of any saint or sage who knew the master plan
yeah, i wandered every backroad in that broken promise land
open up your gate, marianna

lay me down in the dark womb of your love
lay me down in the dark womb of your love
i stood shiv'rin in the temple, i found nothin to believe

as lightnin burns these bridges under, smoke will surely rise
and the fables of my innocence blow lazy through the skies
when timeless truths reveal themselves as little more than lies
open up your gate, marianna

lay me down in the dark womb of your love
mother i razed the tainted chapel, but no angel came to comfort me
lay me down in the dark womb of your love
mother i stormed the tower of babel, i found nothin to believe

sticks and stones might break this body and words might wound my soul
and phantom visions fly me where the faithful fear to go
but when this story's over and my sun is sinkin low
open up your gate, marianna

lay me down in the dark womb of your love
mother the years pass outta countin but no prophet comes to comfort me
lay me down in the dark womb of your love
mother i climbed the holy mountain, i found nothin to believe
mother i climbed the holy mountain, i found nothin to believe