Goodness Hasn'T Come This Way In Years

(after Irene) It’s a ravaged town down in these parts The jobless faces and those heavy hearts The sun barely makes it in before it disappears A cold cold sky, clouds corrupt Even the billboards won’t look up ‘cause goodness hasn’t come this way in years Bone kids living outta tinted Fords Barely separate from the cord Innocence tied to the stake and surrounded by spears I used to know happiness and love Now I cry out to whatever’s above ‘cause goodness hasn’t come this way in years Some camouflaged personnel roll by I go to salute but don’t wonder why I guess I bought into the dogma of courage and fear When all the protection and virtues cease, I might even kill for one moment’s peace ‘cause goodness hasn’t come this way in years The water is receding after the flood Baptizing a Lutheran church in mud It’s all the space left to pray and weep acolyte’s tears Forgive us our trespasses into crime Our holy ghosts live on borrowed time When goodness hasn’t come this way in years The folksinger died in a burning crash – A whole culture paid for his pine box in cash While his own kids parade their scars in front of the mirror But by then, there won’t be music left When a scene dies, it dies a megaton death And goodness will not come this way for years. 2011