LIKE A STRAIGHT SHOT AFTER MIDNITE

The toughest
thing
a man may do

is have morals

without
the threat of G.O.D.

and in spite of
the treachery of
society

American
or otherwise

expand
your heart
Grinch-like
and let the
good stuff flow out of you
like a dandelion
gone to seed
getting kicked to pieces
by rough-fingered wind

there is hope . . .
hope for me
and hope for you,
If you are not yet a zombie

So go to it
there is rum and other things
an ocean to drink
If you need a force-field,
Plenty of good tunes to shuffle
Your feet to
and plenty of well-curved wenches
that deserve to have
their names
Screamed out in the dark

  — Bradley Mason Hamlin, copyright © 2003., reprinted without permission

BAD RELIGION - AMERICAN JESUS

I don’t need to be a global citizen
‘Cuz I’m blessed by nationality
I’m a member of a growing populace
We enforce our popularity
There are things that seem to pull us under and
There are things that drag us down
But there’s a power and a vital presence
It’s lurking all around

We’ve got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate
We’ve got the American Jesus
He helped build the President’s estate

I feel sorry for the Earth’s population
‘Cuz so few live in the U.S.A.
At least the foreigners can copy our morality
They can visit but they cannot stay
Only precious few can garner our prosperity
It makes us walk with renewed confidence
We got a place to go when we die
And the architect resides right here

We’ve got the American Jesus
Bolstering national faith
We’ve got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day

He’s the farmer’s barren fields (In God)
The force the army wields (we trust)
Expressions on the faces of the starving millions (Because he’s one of us)
The power of the man (Break down)
He’s the fuel that drives the Klan (Cave in)
He’s the motive and the conscience of the murderer (He can redeem your sin)

He’s the preacher on T.V. (Strong heart)
The false sincerity (Clear mind)
The form letter that’s written by the big computers (And infinitely kind)
The nuclear bombs (You lose)
The kids with no moms (We win)
And I’m fearful that he’s inside me… (He is our champion)
Yeah!

We’ve got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate
We’ve got the American Jesus
Exercising his authority
We’ve got the American Jesus
Bolstering national faith
We’ve got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day, yeah!

One nation, under God…