[Verse 1] We bit our pride in the dust too much manna, still we fuss snakes in the sand, same old rush same old “why” with a poisoned tongue Moses low in the camp, face worn thin the plea goes up, the fear rushes in “Make me a sign,” not a spell, not a myth a bronze bruise lifted on a pole in the wind Look and live, if the venom is bright don’t fight the cure, don’t outshout the light One glance split the dark in the chest one command turned the curse into rest (look and live) (look and live) [Pre-Chorus] Hands on the rail of the unknown night eyes on the shape that the Lord designed If the wound says die, and the body says no there’s mercy in the metal, mercy in the glow [Chorus] Nehushtan up high Nehushtan, look and live What was lifted for death became the place to forgive Nehushtan up high Nehushtan, look and live The bite can’t win when the Lord says, “Lift it” [scratch: look and live / lift it up] [Verse 2] Years moved on, and the sign got fed people bowed low to the thing instead burned old incense to a deadened gleam turned a rescue into a counterfeit dream Hezekiah came with a hammer hand broke that bronze in the promised land because even good signs, if the heart goes blind become small gods with a silver shine So I keep my gaze where the mercy was hung not on the relic, but the saving One from the wilderness wound to the holy cross one lifted story, one redeeming loss (turn it down) (turn it down) [Bridge] When the poison climbs, when the pulse gets loud when my mouth keeps forming a faithless crowd I remember the pole in the desert air and the kind of God who was already there [Final Chorus] Nehushtan up high Nehushtan, look and live What was lifted for death became the place to forgive Nehushtan up high Nehushtan, look and live The bite can’t win when the Lord says, “Lift it” [Outro] Look and live Look and live Bronze in the fire grace in the ribs
