Time Is An Ocean

I speak to you in Jesus' name
As Jesus speaks through me
The evil we do can't be blamed
Upon our destinyI have walked through the
Valley of death-row to the shore
I have stumbled through silvery water
To my Savior, my SalvadorIt took me four years to learn
I was in prison, not in church
And two more to begin
The book of my soul's searchTime is an ocean of endless tearsA wild boy from the streets of El Barrio
The orphan from the hills of Mayag ezAnd when I wrote my story
The words flew from the page
And my soul in solitary
Escaped its iron cageTime is an ocean of endless tearsMama, I got your letter today
The next time that you write
I'll be transferred far awayI'm leaving Greenhaven's
Towers of stone
Where the Latin population
Will soon be minus oneTime is an ocean of endless tearsI know how hard it's been
For you these many yearsYou say the Aguinaldo
Makes you dream of home
Where once we strolled
The beach at El MaleconGo back, don't you worry
I am your grown up sonThe politics of prison
Are a mirror of the street
The poor endure oppression
The police control the stateCorrectional of facility
That's what they call this place
But look around and you will see
The politics of raceA forest and a prison
Where the snow and guards are whiteIf you want to keep your sanity
You'll teach yourself to writeYou were a child of sixteen
With a twelve year old mind
You came here numb and battered
By the streets I left behindI'll take the evil in me
And turn it into good
Though all your institutions
Never thought I couldSo, now I'll turn to say goodbye
I'll keep your image in my eye
I turn around to say goodbye
I'll keep your image with me till the day I dieTime is an ocean of endless tears