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Jesus was a pacifist freedom fighter and a social revolutionary, NOT a conservative fundamentalist war-monger!
folk political radical political music peace songs riotfolk radical music labor songs political songs radical folk antiwar songs
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Fiery and original radical songs of hope, justice and struggle
Ethan & Kate perform firey and original of hope, liberation and struggle. With hard-hitting lyrics, rich vocal harmonies and rhythmic high-energy acoustic guitar, their music aims to strengthen and inspire movements for social, economic and ecological justice. * * * * * RiOtFoLk "making folk a threat again!" * * * * * Hi friends, All of our music is here for free download (and also at www.riotfolk.org) because we believe in the power of songs as tools of struggle and social change-- and we want these tools to be freely shared with all who might find them useful. The songs here are also anti-copyright (registered into the Public Domain at ), because we believe that art should not be privately owned, but rather shared as part of our "cultural commons" (how could we copyright chords and language and ideas that are a thousand years old?!) "But if all your music is free, how do you eat?" people ask. Well, we work odd jobs, share income, and grow some of our food. We make some money from live gigs and CD sales. We live by mutual-aid and with low-impact ethics. We appreciate any donations you can give for these songs (or CD purchases)-- they help sustain us and allow us to continue our work. CDs can be purchased by mail order (see address below) and are sliding scale, $5-$30. SLiding scale is based on a principle of solidarity-- folks paying at a higher end makes it possible for us to offer this music to others who can't afford the usual high price of a CD. Thanks! CDs are also available for $15 at And of course, we'd love to come play in your town, so drop us a line... Keep loving, keep fighting! -e&k
Song Info
Genre
Acoustic • Acoustic Folk
Charts
#15,442 today Peak #114
#3,419 in subgenre Peak #16
Author
Ethan Miller
Rights
anti-copyright (public domain)
Uploaded
October 21, 2005
Track Files
MP3
MP3 6.6 MB • 128 kbps • 0:00
Story behind the song
This song is dedicated to the late Maine activist and rabble-rouser Peter Holmes, from whom the chorus-line comes. Peter came to a rally after the U.S. attack on Afghanistan with a sign that read, “Hey Bush: Wait ‘till Jesus gets his hands on you!” It is addressed to all of those who had bad Sunday school teachers and somehow came to believe that wars, empires, armies, governments, banks, corporations, and “free trade” agreements might all be looked upon approvingly by the same great prophet who said: “Listen: it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God than it is for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle.”
Lyrics
Hands On You (Ethan Miller) You said, "God bless America," looking sincere May the Lord be our shepherd this time And the troops were deployed in the flash of an eye To commit yet another imperial crime. Do these bombs fall down as a prayer? Whose bodies do these bullets bless? What cynical love do you claim for yourselves That takes those who have nothing And leaves them with less? All you priests who bless battleship Like you bless wine, What god do you serve that makes killing divine? "Bless us, oh lord, and these all our crimes," To justify all that you do— Wait 'till Jesus gets his hands on you. All you zealots who call yourselves "Christians," And pray to the lord high above Condemning all those who are different than you Practicing hatred while speaking of love Confuse faith for obedience and God for a king And bow to your master without questioning Ask no forgiveness for the suffering you bring Do you think this is God's work you do? Wait 'till Jesus gets his hands on you. In the name of the Father, the name of the Son, In the name of lands conquered and battles yet won, In the name of the bullet, the dollar, the gun, You pray to sanctify what you have done. With the sword and the bible And the sign of the cross, Crusade of the righteous, the banker, the boss In the name of your god, 30 million lives lost What hell you have put us all through— Wait 'till Jesus gets his hands on you. Tell me, who crucified Jesus? And who crucifies this world with wars? It's not Christians or Jews, it's people like you Who've stolen it all and still you want more. Perhaps you might need a reminder About the fire that follows the flood Do you really believe you can honor God's name By breaking Her body and spilling Her blood? Demand of the heavens your riches to keep While millions will toil to sow what you reap If the lord were your shepherd, You'd be wolves dressed like sheep Your confession is long overdue— Wait 'till Jesus gets his hands on you. Jesus walked into the temple Where the bankers had set up their trade He said, "No one can serve both money and God," And he flipped all their tables in rage. There are creeds of the conqueror Disguised as the Truth And blessed by the king up above And there are creeds of the conquered Who struggle and fight For dignity, justice, and love. Tell me who is your neighbor And where do they live? What do you take from them, what do you give? Try as you might now to keep it all hid, Your words can't disguise what you do— Wait 'till Jesus gets his hands on you Wait 'till Jesus gets his hands on you.
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