American Civil Religion

Just in time for the election…the only protest song I’ve written.

I’m tired of American civil religion
Where God is a word in the inauguration
A phrase in the pledge, and a charm on our coins

Our lips honor him, but our hearts are far from him
We curry his favor, and vainly we join
Our freedom, our God and our spite
We’ll do what we want because it’s our right

And that’s the American Dream
Where things just aren’t what they seem
Life enslaved by a pursuit of happiness
Liberty dies in a pursuit of happiness
This is the tyranny of hell
My country, ’tis of thee

I’m tired of the way this is blurring my vision
Convenience being the theme of our nation
We’re sunshine patriots for the kingdom of God

From temples in Texas comes the lucrative witness
The syncretist lessons that bind in a fraud
Our Deity, money, and health
Where God is a tool to bring us more wealth

And that’s the American Dream
Where things just aren’t what they seem
Life enslaved by a pursuit of happiness
Liberty dies in a pursuit of happiness
This is the tyranny of hell
My country, ’tis of thee

Chief among our exports
Chief among our sins
Chief among idolatries
Are idols made from him

How narrow the gates that lead to our manifest destiny
For no one within this land was conceived in liberty
And no one within the world is conceived in liberty
No, no one within the world is conceived in liberty

And we are the tired, we are the poor
We are the huddled masses
We are the tired, we are the poor
We are the huddled masses
Yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of the teeming shore
Homeless, tempest-tossed, we come to you
Homeless, tempest-tossed, we come to you