Idea And Deed Lyrics by Will Oldham
Clean Lyric
Paragraph Lyric
(Will Oldham after Dick Gaughan version)

what's the winter's cold negative press
what's the spring with its air of rebirth
to those felled under wildest duress
trading freedom for a false sense of worth

let the love of our own sacred rites
to the love of our people succeed
let friendship and future unite
and flourish in idea and deed

let the costume distinguish the strong
place riches in lowest esteem
it's for excess that people do wrong
and to liberty honesties lean

letting one minute go on
without seeing yourself with an eye
that is watchful and kindly and strong
is as letting the soul drop and die
(Will Oldham after Dick Gaughan version)      what's the winter's cold negative press   what's the spring with its air of rebirth   to those felled under wildest duress   trading freedom for a false sense of worth      let the love of our own sacred rites   to the love of our people succeed   let friendship and future unite   and flourish in idea and deed      let the costume distinguish the strong   place riches in lowest esteem   it's for excess that people do wrong   and to liberty honesties lean      letting one minute go on   without seeing yourself with an eye   that is watchful and kindly and strong   is as letting the soul drop and die