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How dare you wear robes and reside
How dare you cover your head to hide
Your face from God
How dare you smile from behind your beard
To hide the fact that your hearts are feared
And wave your rod
How dare you be the one to assess
Me in this godforsaken mess
You, a man in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress
When you place your frown
Between my God and prayer
However grand your crown
Or dignified your hair
Men above men all prats
In your high hats
You priest, you mullah so high
You pope, you wise rabbi
You're invisible to me
Like vapor from the sea
I lovingly mock you noble lords
We all dress up to grand awards
I do that as well
I dare condemn your fashion sense
At least you're not astride the fence
That wouldn't sell
But I will deliver this address
Your souls conditioned don't impress
You, a man in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress
How dare you cover your head to hide
Your face from God
How dare you smile from behind your beard
To hide the fact that your hearts are feared
And wave your rod
How dare you be the one to assess
Me in this godforsaken mess
You, a man in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress
When you place your frown
Between my God and prayer
However grand your crown
Or dignified your hair
Men above men all prats
In your high hats
You priest, you mullah so high
You pope, you wise rabbi
You're invisible to me
Like vapor from the sea
I lovingly mock you noble lords
We all dress up to grand awards
I do that as well
I dare condemn your fashion sense
At least you're not astride the fence
That wouldn't sell
But I will deliver this address
Your souls conditioned don't impress
You, a man in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress
Lyrics submitted by Thrust of Pain, edited by richard105
A Man in a Purple Dress Lyrics as written by Pete Townshend
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's a great observation on the arrogance of clergy who wield authority over christian believers, especially clergy in the Catholic Church.
Jesus Christ warned us about these people in the Gospels. He said that no man should be refereed to as 'Father' except your biological Father and your Father in Heaven. He also condemned the Pharisees, the priests in the purple dresses of the Jewish church at the time for putting themselves as a barrier between man and God.
spot on Pete!