Paul Simon - A Church Is Burning (alternate version) lyrics

A church is burning The flames rise higher Like hands that are praying They grow in the sky Like hands that are praying The fire ascends You can burn down my churches But I shall be free Three hooded men through the back roads did creep Torches in their hands while the village lies asleep Down to the church where, just hours before Voices were singing, and Hands were meeting, and Saying, "I won't be a slave anymore" A church is burning The flames rise higher Like hands that are praying They glow in the sky Like hands that are praying The fire ascends You can burn down my churches But I shall be free Three hooded men, their hands lit the spark And they faded in the night, they vanished in the dark And in the cold light of morning, there was nothing that remained But the ashes of a Bible and a can of kerosene A church is burning The flames rise higher Like hands that are praying They glow in the sky Like hands that are prayin' The fire ascends You can burn down my churches But I shall be free A church is more than just timber and stone And freedom is a dark road when you're walking it alone But the future is now, and it's time to take a stand So the lost bells of freedom can ring out in my land A church is burning The flames rise higher Like hands that are praying They glow in the sky Like hands that are praying The fire ascends You can burn down my churches But I shall be free