So I told him that he'd better shut his mouth
And do his job like a man
And he answered, "Listen
Father, I will never kill another"
Thinks he's better
Than his brother who died
What the hell does he think he's doing
To his father who brought him up right?
Take your place on the Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment in time
Win or lose now, you must choose now
And if you lose you're only losing your life
Tell the jailer not to bother
With his meal of bread and water today
He is fasting 'til the killing's over
He's a martyr, he thinks he's a prophet
But he's a coward, he's just playing a game
He can't do it, he can't change it
And it's been going on for ten thousand years
Take your place on the Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment of time
Win or lose now, you must choose now
And if you lose you're only losing your life
What's that rumbling in the courtyard?
Seven thousand faces are turned to the gate
What's that they are saying? Kill the traitor
Kill the traitor, kill the traitor, kill the traitor
Take your place on the Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment of time
Win or lose now, you must choose now
And if you lose you're only losing your life
Tell the people they are safe now
Hunger stopped him, now he lies still in his cell
Death has gagged all his accusations
We are free now, we can kill now
We can hate now, now we can end the world
We're not guilty, he was crazy
And it's been going on for ten thousand years
Take your place on the Great Mandala
As it moves through your brief moment of time
Win or lose now, we must choose now
And if you lose you're only wasting your life
If you lose you're only wasting your life
If you lose you're only wasting your life
If you lose you're only wasting your life
If you lose you've only wasted your life
The Great Mandala Lyrics performed by Richie Havens are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that The Great Mandala Lyrics performed by Richie Havens is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD