CLEAN MONDAY

 

You know it's 9 AM

and I've been waiting for you

wondering what you might say

 

I've got the guards out 

just in case there's trouble

but you know I know you wouldn't dare

 

Why don't you sit down,

and take a breath mint?

You think you're headed for the cross

 

But take your robe off

take out the thorns

it's just about some money lost

 

And if the children they keep crying

and if they stumble out into the streets

and if the old men grab their sabres

and mumble something about

how they would never retreat

you tell them

 

it just the winter turning into spring

but when the summer comes

you keep em waiting now

just waiting for the bell to ring

 

And if the streets begin to crumble

and the poor begin to wash away

and the children lose some culture

well, it has happened before

and it'll be ok, oh…

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

You know we're not scared

of what is coming

of what is coming from the streets

 

You know we're not scared

of what could happen

if you leave us standing on our feet

 

but if I gave you a number I'd be lying

and if I give you a dollar I'll be damned

And if I sell my firstborn son to the pharoah

do you think that we could stay

stay here in the promised land?

 

I'm just waiting for the bell to ring

I'm just standing here in my corner, waiting for the bell to ring

I'm just lying here on the floor, just waiting for the bell to ring

I'm just sitting here, tied up in the corner, waiting for the bell to ring

 

 

WAVING FLAG

 

I'm tired

of waiting

for a better day

 

but I'm scared

and I'm lazy and 

nothing's gonna change

 

The war is 

not over

the blood's still on the ground

 

but I'm far

and I'm safe and 

I will not make a sound

 

I watch from the edge

but all I can see are the waves

 

*    *    *    *

 

The flags 

are waving

They're ready for the past

 

They're strong

and they're saying

the fighting's gonna last

 

till the dead 

can rise up from their beds

and laugh with their friends 

the future

is only a dream

 

*    *    *    *

 

You sought

the future

they tried to make you hide

 

We took

forever

but now we're on your side

 

Let us rest

with our friends

in the sun

cause the battle is won

the present 

is only a dream

 

Why don't you let us be?

Why won't you let us be?

 

 

YOU MUST BE KIDDING

 

I was standing on a mountain

when I got a message from the sun

It was a sad face, a trophy, a heart, and a loaded gun

I wrote her in a panic

I said, "My God, what have you done?"

She said, "You must be kidding.

It's only just begun."

 

I was born in California

back before the fields burned to the ground

and the people started leaving

and the dust it started claiming the towns

I tried to call to governor 

to see if all the troubles were done

She said, "You must be kidding.

They've only just begun."

 

We were standing on the beach

and we were trying hard to figure things out.

Some kids were killing Piggy,

and some other kids were fishing for trout

 

When the choppers started landing

and the army came to take us away

They put us in a nice hotel for a day

I wandered through the lobby

tried to wash the blood from my hands

but the faucet wasn't running

it was all filled with sand

I asked the concierge

if this is how the things here were done—

She said, "You must be joking—

it's only just begun."

 

Why don't you

stay by my side

while the oceans

they spit in our eye

and the mountains are laughing

and my 

hands are so dry

but we've got enough money, baby

it'll be all right

yeah, we've got enough money, maybe

it'll be all right

 

ah ha ha ha haahhahahahahahahha

 

 

MADONNA CAN'T SAVE ME NOW

 

You can spend all day

You can spend all day

Breaking hearts

with a sledgehammer

and a glass of milk

 

You can spend all night

You can spend all night

Making love

out of beeswax

and breadcrumbs

 

But how am I supposed to live?

How am I supposed to live?

How am I supposed to live

when you won't even look at me?

 

You can see for miles

in the midnight sky

but I don't wanna see so far tonight

 

When the future is dark

and I don't know where to turn

I turn on the radio, radio

There's nothing that I haven't heard.

 

When the future is bright

and I'm standing in my home

I turn on the radio, radio

and suddenly I'm all alone

 

Who'd you have to kill

to burn so bright?

I run away as fast as I can, now,

but always through an endless night

 

Madonna can't save me now.

Madonna can't save me now.

Madonna can't save you now.

 

 

BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON 

(from Psalm 137)

 

By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept

By the waters of Babylon we hung up our harps

And there we wept

 

For our kidnappers came to us 

They came to us and they said,

"Sing.

 Sing us a song to make us laugh."

 

But how can I sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?

How can we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?

 

If I forget thee, O my city, let my right hand forget her cunning

If I forget thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth—

if I love anything as much as you

 

Remember, O Lord, when our enemies came

and they said "Burn it. Burn it to the stones."

 

O daughter of Babylon—who will be destroyed—

happy will he be

that will do to you as you have done to us.

 

Happy will he be

that takes and throws thy little ones against the stones.

 

Happy will he be who takes and throws thy little ones against the stones.