(It's Not What Was Promised in) the Promise Land

If you hate so much the lies that other people say

Then tell me this, I pray -

Why then do you delay in telling me the way

That you’ll convince the world to change this time around?

If honesty is your bread and dignity is your butter

Then tell me why you bag your heads

and point your fingers at each other

and stab your rusty blades instead 

into the backs of friends and brothers?

Passing anthrax stationary over party lines

Using racism and violence to drive a divide

For in fear of solidarity, no one can rise

Anyone who disagrees will meet a swift demise

These are treacherous waters

Our sons and daughters will be mothers and fathers of whatever world we leave behind

Oh, we’re so enlightened

Too secure to be frightened

But it isn’t what was promised in the promised land

Is there decency no more?

Sending our children off to war

using religion as the sword

So you can drag the sheep aboard

and rise above as kings and lords

and plant your flowery lies to bend their way of thinking?

Sire, your sinkless ship is sinking

So pour more kool-aid for the drinking

as a last, futile attempt to kill off all who stand against

Quickly! Drown the world you're leading!

Your misleading doubt is fleeting

Soon the victims you’re defeating

Will vomit up the lies you're feeding

And the trampled and the pleading

Will start researching and reading

And see history repeating

and will stand without retreating

With your heart rapidly beating

You’ll see revolution breeding

And your empire start conceding

as the ragged, torn and bleeding

Flood the gates without receding

And you’ll find yourself strung up beside the lamp tower

How the face of true rebellion makes a coward cower 

All the sweetness of your precious speech has turned to sour

As you find yourself the catalyst for everything you tried to smother out