Don't Be Surprised Lyrics - Singles - Tim O'brien

She was heavy with child and he had a hungry look 

They were out on the road just waitin' to be took 

And I wasn't much better, all I owned in a sack 

But I had enough street smarts to watch my back 

And he asked me if I knew a place they could go 

To keep from the wind, away from the rain and the drivin' snow 

He said I'm good with my hands, I can work my way 

But I don't know a soul hear, there's not much I can pay 

I just shook my head and all I could say was 

Don't be surprised if they turn you away 

I said your child will be born to a heartless place 

If he tries to do good, they'll just spit in his face 

He might heal the sick, make a lame man walk 

Draw big crowds of people to hear his talk 

But he'd make rich men so nervous they'd take him away 

They put him on trial and twist his words 

Just to make make him pay 

He might be humble the gentlest around 

That won't stop some men from puttin' him down 

You see I don't have much faith in people these days 

So don't be surprised if they turn him away 

Well, I guess someday maybe Rome will fall 

Peace could live inside Jerusalem's walls 

And men could win in at lots of things they try 

Grow food in the desert maybe even learn how to fly 

In two thousand years they might look back on our day 

And study about us, they'd probably wonder 

How in the world we could live this way 

But the more things change the more they stay the same 

Men will never give up their hurtful games 

A few will stand tall and a few will walk straight 

But most of us will fall to the fear and hate 

Well, I guess at the time it didn't seem so odd 

But I was talking with Joseph and Mary, the mother of God 

And I wouldn't change a word if I saw them today 

And I wouldn't be surprised if they turned them away 

He said I'm good with my hands and I can work my way 

But I don't know a soul hear, there's not much I can pay 

I just shook my head 'cause all I could say was 

Don't be surprised if they turn you away