Songtext Missing children Cowboy Junkies

Missing children

You only see them briefly
Perhaps just one edition
Their end-of-year photo stares out

You only see them briefly
And it's muggin' politicians
Cock-eyed, their faces stare out

But for some their image still burns bright
Like the glow of a tiger or a light
Switched-off, but once stared-at
With such intense concentration

You only see them briefly
Then it's idle conversation
Their perfect frozen bodies [?]

You only see them briefly
Then it's fear and degradation
Their dusty, bloody bodies lie [?]

But for some their image still burns bright
Like the glow of a tiger or a light
Switched-off, but once stared-at
With such intense concentration

And one shoulder and one [?]
Can twist the sinews of thy heart
And when thy heart began to beat
What dread hands and what dread feet!
What the hammer? What the chain?
[?] was thy [?]
What the [anvil?] what dread [?]
[?] deadly [?]

You only see them briefly
Then it's shame and flagellation
Their end-of-year photos stare out

[?] starts to down their spears
And water heaven with their tears
Did he smile [?]
Did he who [?]

You only see them briefly
Then reach to change the station
Their frozen perfect faces stare out