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Rivers of Jordan

by The Phoenix Twin

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about

I started writing this song originally as a response to the ever-ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it morphed into more of a lamentation on violence, fear, tribalism, and the idiocy of religion. Interpret the lyrics as you like. Enjoy!
~Benjy

lyrics

There is a river
That separates man from the cradle and the serious beast
And a type of conscience that hangs in the air
And the heat of the street turns the blood thin and weak
In the desert-river people who have only to teach that
The rivers of blood keep the others out there

There is a memory
Of people who once stood golden in the eyes of God
The pain of loss still chokes the air
And it strikes all the lungs of the miracle sons
Both sides of the spectrum that thought they had won
Their adulation from God
When they came unprepared

And I said, O

Blood in the sky with a military high
Emotions and thoughts are blurred on the lines
Between the thinking head and the roaring of a crowd
While a passage long ago spoke the words
That the man in the trench has reason to curse
When the blood of his brothers stains the ground

And I said, O

And the prophets of the world misspoke
Cuz people are longing to feel that choke
When destiny is wrapped in the spreading of blood
But God doesn't speak, only filters the weak
Through every river and every creek
And the soil set for peace
Cracks into stainless mud

And I said, O

Waves are rising
On the horizon

Don't get caught
In the prehistoric thought
That the river will wash your skin
It fed the pores
Of the lessons and the wars
That decided to touch your kin
But you'd better hold your candles to the ground

Don't look back cuz the Rivers of Jordan are flooding down

There comes a time
When you want to be defined
By the latest barbarity
Protect the faith
That you have in human hate
With the latest in clarity
But you'd better hold your candles to the ground

Don't look back cuz the Rivers of Jordan are flooding down

And you can shout
And you can doubt
What you really see
And you can doubt
All your clout
For your fading dream
And you can shout
All about
Till you want to scream
And you can doubt
All your clout
For your fading dream

It don't matter the cause or reaction
Religion's laughing at you
Doesn't matter if you've lived in compassion
Religion's laughing at you
Doesn't matter if there's secular action
Religion's laughing at you
Doesn't matter if you've lived in compassion
Religion's laughing at you

And you'd better have an answer for the crowd

credits

released January 7, 2016
Written by Benjy Smax and Craig Lebovic
Recording Credits: Rob Curzon

Benjy Smax: lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Craig Lebovic: vocals, lead guitar
Rob Curzon: bass, vocals
Erin Fraboni: violin
Aaron Pitsenberger: vocals, keyboard
Nitin Nimgaonkar: drums

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