Category: Writing

Prayer is older than religion,
it’s older than god and priests.
it’s older than money, music, or bibles –
it’s even older than speech.
it doesn’t mean beg god to get what you want,
it’s war just to be alive.
n’ sometimes you gotta call out to all that’s beyond
just to reach the universe inside.

From the bottom of a mineshaft
come these new hymns for an old war
pray for rain – rock for light
sing for hope – work for change

pray for thanks, for focus
pray for love, the strength of doves

And they say that there’s no
atheists in a foxhole,
but we’re standing right here
with bombs bursting in air.
got my hand on the movement plow,
wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.
we’ve always called to the universe –
never needed anyone to show us how.

From the bottom of a mineshaft
come these new hymns for an old war
pray for rain – rock for light
sing for hope – work for change

pray for thanks, for focus
pray for love, the strength of doves

Pray! For rain.
Work! For change.
Pray! For fuel.
BUILD A FIRE.

They say all songs’ve been sung – I think that’s so arrogant.
not because I’m special, but because the world is changing.
Lady, whatchoo want me to do? Now, I’m holdin’ my breath…
yeah, I’ll walk with you, I said with nobody else.
I know it’s sounds so cliche, but you know I’ve tried it all –
waitin’ on The Lottery and workin for a pay check.
I ain’t no Connor O’berst, but I think I know what he meant.
you know I had love once. back then, I was a fool, but now I found it again…
Yes, I found it again!

So, I look to the left
and I look to my right
I see you still by my side
and then I know it’s alright.
When bullets start to fly
and I see the water rise up,
then I keep to my Left
then I look to my right.
I see you still by my side,
and I then I know it’s alright –
not fake like the movies,
but like it is in real life.

They say that it’s all been said – I think that’s way too easy,
and even if they’re all right, it’s a shitty thing to believe.
I met a girl at a protest – we laughed and danced in the street.
some boy called us naive ‘cause we were actin’ silly
like the movement’s all blood, like its nothing but pain,
but it’s gotta be both if we really want things to change.
i know that we are at war and the world is on fire,
but if I lose my mind, is it worth all the fight?
if we bleed without joy, then it’s not worth the fight!

So I look to the left
and I look to my right
I see you still by my side
and I then I know it’s alright
When bullets start to fly
and I see the water rise up
then I keep to my Left
then I look to my right
I see you still by my side
and I then I know it’s alright
not fake like the movies
but like it is in real life

If – we – bleed without joy, then
it’s not – worth, worth the fight

if we bleed without joy, then It’s not worth the fight!

So I look to the left
and I look to my right
I see you still by my side
and I then I know it’s alright
When bullets start to fly
and I see the water rise up
then I keep to my Left
then I look to my right
I see you still by my side
and I then I know it’s alright
not fake like the movies
but like it is in real life.

Look at all the flat screens playin’ all the sports.
look at all the neon glowin in the dark.
this ain’t an honest temple for the heart of a song,
it’s just another bar trying to profit of off art.

Bouncers and Cops, Bouncers and Cops!
Alpha-Male Violence, Bullies and Jocks!
it ain’t the only way, we don’t have to go
we don’t need your shit to have a fucking show

It’s so ridiculous, who would ever think
kids can’t see a band just because they’re serving drinks.
you treat us like we’re chumps, you treat us like we’re dirt,
but if we didn’t come, then you’d be out of work.

Bouncers and Cops, Bouncers and Cops!
Alpha-Male Violence, Bullies and Jocks!
ain’t the only way, we don’t have to go
we don’t need your shit to have a fucking show!

We blame the owner more, we never see his face.
this ain’t a music venue – it’s a barroom with a stage.
it’s here to make cash, it’s here to sell drinks.
if it was just for music, then this place would not exist.
why should we bring you money? why should we bring you crowds?
you got nice equipment, but you suck at doing sound!
you fail at doing promo, you treat kids like we’re trash,
so we’ll go throw our own and we’ll get to keep the cash.

U.S. out the Amazon, U.S. out the Gulf
U.S. out the ocean, U.S. off the coast
U.S. out the forest, U.S. out the well
What blood is of the earth is not your stock to sell!

Take chances for the world (U. S.! OUT NOW!)
don’t understand the risk (OUT NOW!)

Rushing in the deep with a loaded drill
too many ways to break what you could never fix
your Mother is a hostage, the gun is at her head
when profit’s held up above every living thing

Take chances for the world (B – P! OUT NOW!)
don’t understand the risk (OUT NOW!)

I don’t kill with my hate
he who kills with his hate
has forgotten the face
of his Mother. I kill
WITH – MY – HEART.

Lyrics to “U.S. Out of the Amazon!” written by Jared Paul, for Prayers For Atheists, originally released on Strange Famous Records.

(All lyrics taken from official testimony of wrongfully executed Chicago organizer, August Spies. Lines selected and arranged by Alan Hague/Jared Paul.)

Iniquities so monstrous that they cry to Heaven.
The fear of change cloaked in the last resort of scoundrels, who will
kill to preserve their paradise.

The time will come when our silence
is stronger than the voices you strangle today.
The cause of my alleged crime;
it is your history!

Here you will tread upon a spark, but there, and there, and behind you,
in front of you, and everywhere, these flames will blaze up. It’s a
fire you can’t put out. THE GROUND IS ON FIRE!

The time will come when our silence
is stronger than the voices you strangle today.
The cause of my alleged crime;
it is your history!

Your accusation…is my defense.

Lyrics to “May 1st 1888” written by Jared Paul, for Prayers For Atheists, originally released on Strange Famous Records.

I still believe that we can win.
I’m not ashamed of having hope.
I hold myself accountable.
I’m not afraid to look into
A stranger’s eye and see a friend.

I still believe that we can win
I’m not afraid of this Victory

to keep the fight, but still celebrate
this life of ours, your mother’s name,
the way we sing, the way we dance,
these flying bikes, our holding hands.
I pray with work, I pray with truth.

I still believe – that we can win
I’m not afraid – of this Victory
the opposite – of apathy
I’m not ashamed – of having Hope
I will embrace – the Strength of Doves

I still believe that we can win
I’m not afraid of this Victory!
the opposite of apathy
I’m not ashamed of having Hope!
I will embrace the Strength of Doves
yes, there’s a way – but what we want…
it may not come within our lives
we may not beat this raging tide!

Yes, there’s a way, but what we want
it may not come within our lives.
we may not beat this raging tide,
but that don’t mean that we won’t fight.
but that don’t mean that we won’t fight!

I still believe that we can win
I’m not afraid of this Victory
the opposite of apathy
I’m not ashamed of having Hope
I will embrace the Strength of Doves.

Lyrics to “The Strength of Doves” written by Jared Paul, for Prayers For Atheists, originally released on Strange Famous Records.