Follow My Leader
by
Ruth Barnes

When the Pied Piper came to Hamelin Town
He carried a pipe and wore a red-yellow gown,
But when he appeared last night on T.V.
He looked very different - though I swear it was he.

His hair was short,
Expression severe,
An ear-ring dangled
From one ear,
His jacket glittered,
His jeans were tight
And an electric guitar
Replaced his pipe.
But I recognised him as he started to play
By the response of his followers in the way
They started to clap and sway in time
And they hung on his words as line by line
He drew them on as if by a spell
Till, under hypnosis, none could tell
If the things that he told them were true or false
They just shouted and whistled until they were hoarse
While he told them that happiness could be found
By self-satisfaction and not being bound
By the rules of society, parents, the law -
For everyone knows they don't count anymore.
"Just live for yourself - eat, drink and be gay
For sex, drink and drugs are the only sure way
To be happy in life in the 1990's
Living the fast life, ignoring all crises."

And my mind went back to the piper of old
Who promised such wondrous things, so we're told
And he led his followers to the foot of a hill
Where a portal was opened and they danced inside till
The door was shut fast
And that was the last
That was heard or seen
Of their hopes and their dreams
For they'd passed the point of no return

'Twas a very different day
And a far from similar way
That a man approached
Another hill on earth
His followers were few
But His death marked life anew
For it opened up the door
To eternal life
This door is open still
And everyone who will
May enter in by faith
In Jesus Christ
He'll lead you day by day
Through all your earthly stay,
Give peace, love, joy
That no-one else can give
And when the way gets rough
His grace will be enough
For He'll never, never leave you
All alone