Daily Archives: May 10, 2005

Stupid War

The first draft of this song dates from 1975, when I was ten years old. I subsequently revised it in about 1985.

I read in the papers ’bout the war today:
we’re going to die from an overdose of moral decay.
Whether you’re down and out and hopeless, or you’re fueled by sin and greed,
seems you can’t join the human race until you’ve proven you can bleed.

It’s an overthrow by apathy, and by hypocrisy;
you don’t have to learn to live, just watch it on TV.
Once you’ve proven you know nothing, you can think you know it all;
you can keep up with the Joneses when their bridges start to fall.

We were all born into battle; there’s no need to enlist anymore,
doesn’t matter who we’re fighting, it’s just another stupid war.

I saw it on the news: we’re all going to Hell,
but I’ve seen the new fall previews, so I guess it’s just as well.
If you need a buck to give a damn, throw your money in the trash;
remember, God will pick your pocket if he really needs the cash.

It’s an overdose of oversight, we’re overrun by vanity
you don’t have to learn to take responsibility
Once you’ve focused on your enemy, your mission is half done
you can laugh at all the losers who have got much smaller guns

It’s supposed to make some difference that our side has something worth fighting for
but it really doesn’t matter, because it’s another stupid war.

I saw it on a billboard: they’ve put Heaven up for lease;
twelve forgivens for a dollar if you buy eight more, at least.
If you’ve given up on trying, or are still going for the win,
know pretending to be stupid is the only cardinal sin.

And I don’t remember just what we’re supposed to be fighting for
but it doesn’t really matter, it’s just another stupid war.

1975, 1985

Share This:

Take heart, ye wayworn pilgrims

Take heart, ye wayworn pilgrims
on the road to finding out,
who’ve braved the elements of fear,
delusion, pride and doubt,
and found on your long journey
not a sole epiphany
except that destinations often
are illusory.

Take heart, ye lovesick paramours
who thirst for the divine,
whose knees are raw from crawling
through the realm of Proserpine;
what horrors in the realm of Death
you’ve suffered for your lust
are merely shadows, palimpsest
that will crumble to dust.

Take heart, ye hopeless wanderers
who think there is no trail
and have forsaken long ago
some great quest for the Grail.
The cup is in your hands already;
Drink, and have your fill.
If you can’t find it there by now,
you likely never will.

10 May 2005

Share This:

If no one listens

If no one listens what’s the point of lying?
It takes less effort just to speak the truth;
and any action taken worth denying
will more than likely come to little use.

If no ones pays attention for the echo
that new velocity leaves in its wake,
what difference whether dios or diablo
who punishes us for such a small mistake?

If no one watches for the dawn with wonder,
what good another day just like before?
Perhaps we are indeed a cosmic blunder,
just parasites left stranded on this shore.

If no one listens, can the voice of reason
be blamed if it elects to remain mute?
When thinking independently is treason,
who will cry “Fire!” with no one left to shoot?

10 May 2005

Share This: