WASP SIDE STORY - LYRICS
(3) COULD BE (SOMETHING’S COMING) (2:30)
(4) THE DANCE AT THE GYM (4:56)
(10) TO FIGHT (ENSEMBLE) (3:33)
(14) GEE, JUSTICE O’CONNOR (4:25)
(1) PROLOGUE (2:55)
They had an idea. No one had ever tried it.
They had an idea.
Went against tradition
Viewed with some suspicion
On its first submission
Worth some recognition
They had an idea. No one had ever tried it.
They had an idea
Worship made unwilling
Blood that had been spilling
All the wanton killing
Led to their distilling
A novel idea – one based upon new thinking
They had an idea that would be changing hist’ry
Equality
They had an idea
Stop the diminution
Counter retribution. Hey, why not?
Such a great solution
In a Constitution. Hey, why not?
Freedom was in season
Risking jail for treason
Soon they saw the key’s in
Using powers of reason
They tried equality
They tried respect for their fellow man
It is wrong to have slaying, For not praying
It is wrong, it is wrong
To deny to those who try to
Stay true to their own consciences
Why not just have the government respect everyone’s views as equal?
Freedom for every conscience
Freedom as universal
Freedom for every conscience
Freedom as universal
Freedom for every conscience
Freedom as universal
It is wrong to be telling
And compelling
It is wrong, it is wrong – just a smidgen
In religion
To not be fair. To have some favored
Treat all as equal
Treat all as equal
They had an idea. No one had ever tried it.
“Who needs TJ?”
“Against the Papists, we need every man we gots.”
“TJ don’t belong anymore.”
“Cut it, Sam A. Me and TJ started the WASPS.”
“Well, he acts like he don’t want to belong.”
“Hey, who wouldn’t want to belong to the WASPS?”
When you’re a WASP, you’re a WASP all the way
Like the nation’s first Chief Justice, yes old John Jay
When you’re a WASP you are sure of some things
Like the Pope don’t know squat about the King of Kings
You know that this land was settled and selected
By people who planned to have it all protected
By those elected
To keep the government Protestant, hey
We won’t ever let papists come get in our way
When you’re a WASP you stay a WASP
“Now I know “TJ” like I know me, and I guarantee you can count him in.”
“In-out, let’s get cracking.”
“Where’re you gonna find the Pope-guy?”
“At the hearing today at the Court.”
“But the Court’s not neutral territory.”
“Cool, eh? ‘May Protestant Christianity save the
Court.’ But chill, daddy-o. I’m gonna make nice to him. I’m only gonna challenge him.
So everybody dress up sweet and sharp. But just don’t wear the pointy hat, the fancy
robe ... or the red leather shoes.”
Oh, when the WASPS come in they are oozing class
Never see such allure at a Catholic mass
You know the Pope’s a guy you should besmirch
Don’t you dare let him near any WASP church
“Meet TJ and me at ten. And walk tall.”
“We always walk tall. We’re WASPS, The greatest!”
When you’re a WASP you’re the top cat in town
Got the goods on the guy with the made-of-thorns crown
When you’re a WASP you are brimming with hope
‘Cause you don’t have to deal with some outlandish Pope
A WASP, it is clear, is really cool and caring
You never need fear, that he will not be sharing
Although he’s daring
Here come the WASPs, yeah, and we’re gonna tell
How the papists are all surely going to hell
Here come the WASPs knowing what life is for
Thinking back on the joys of the thirty years war
We really despise the whore of Babyloney
And all of his lies. The guy is just a phony
With tortelloni
Here come the WASPS, yeah!, and we’re gonna beat
Any Catholic that ever dares walk down our street
Down our whole, ever,
(3) COULD BE (SOMETHING’S COMING) (2:30)
Could be, who knows
Is there a god? Who can tell
Is there heaven? Is there hell?
Who can be sure?
For every story that a mind can conceive,
One can believe that and much more. Explore.
What to think? So much choice
Different viewpoint, different voice
What way is right?
And yet no matter which religion is true
What we should do is never fight
Looking back, what we see
Is a world where tyranny
With every breath
Used religion for its power to devour
And to shower many with death
Everyone so assured
Thoughts of others being skewered
Had no effect
This is something we contend, we can end,
We can mend, we can correct
In our new nation
We’ll have the abrogation
Of toleration, you see
Tolerate, that’s no good
Let’s do better, as we should
Let us all seek
A new situation where all is fair
Though it’s rare and it’s unique
No toleration
Among our population
Equal
What to think? So much choice
Different viewpoint, different voice
No way is right
There may be answers but I don’t want to say
Because we may learn a lot more
You want truth? Don’t look here
‘Cause I tell you that I fear
Speaking offhand
Even though the claims they make sound so fake
I won’t take the slightest stand
I won’t make judgments or say a thing that’s caustic
‘Cause I’m agnostic, you see
Could it be just a spoof
I can’t answer without proof
Against the devout
I just will not take a side, I’ll elide
Since my pride won’t accept doubt
I heard some hummin.’ Perhaps it’s god that’s coming.
Could be. Who knows.
(4) THE DANCE AT THE GYM (4:56)
It’s the Supreme Court, protector, defender
It’s the Supreme Court
Majorities at times, Themselves can commit crimes, Said Hamilton
It’s the Supreme Court, protector, defender
It’s the Supreme Court
When justice needs a hand, The justices should stand As the barrier
Against legislation that can infringe on freedoms that we call basic rights.
Above all, to stand tall for equality.
We place within their hands, that document that stands
For Equality
To be certain we protect Everybody, we respect
Their beliefs about some divinity We will have no favored sect
All our judges will ensure That the Constitution pure
Will be on the side of equality So the nation will endure
Everybody’s conscience will Have a clear right to instill
In the public square what others dispute With such right no blood will spill
We’ve got a Constitution that we propose
We’ve got what is a new solution that we hope shows
That we can all be treated by government
As equals. That is the rule to which we gave our consent
We’ve got a Constitution we will now test
To ensure that there’s no dilution we cannot rest
Control Of the Governed
Control That is hard to do
Some folks don’t stay true
Control Of itself
Government of men Has their many flaws
Government of men Can abuse the laws
How to Solve this
Break up all of the power
Don’t let them share
Have Checks and plenty of balance
To have laws fair
Separation is key
No one branch takes control
Add some equality
Separation is key
No one branch takes control
The states, and the feds
The house, senate, too
Don’t forget presidents Are elected
Don’t forget that their jobs depend
On majorities. Majorities
Got to get votes
Got to get re elected
Got to do whatever the polls say it takes
Minorities lose
Some people act just for themselves.
For themselves
For themselves. For themselves
And they are willing to harm other folk for their own personal gains
It’s the Supreme Court, protector, defender
It’s the Supreme Court
When justice needs a hand
The justices should stand
As the barrier
Against legislation that can infringe on freedoms that we call basic rights.
Above all, to stand tall for equality.
The most feudiful sound I ever heard
Scalia, Scalia, Scalia, Scalia
All the feudiful sounds of the world in a single word
Scalia, Scalia, Scalia, Scalia
Scalia – I just read a blurb by Scalia
And suddenly that name brings terror, fright and shame to me
Scalia – the gist of that blurb by Scalia
Is that people like me can never share in liberty
Scalia, say it loud and his God is nearing
Say it soft and it’s still not endearing
Scalia, I’ll never stop fearing Scalia
Scalia, Scalia, Scalia, Scalia
Scalia, Scalia, Scalia, Scalia
Say it loud and his God is nearing
Say it soft and it’s still not endearing
Scalia, I’ll never stop fearing Scalia
The most feudiful sound I ever heard: Scalia.
F: What you do, is just look at history, forever
F: In their hands, in their words, and in everything they’ve done
F: Pope and priest and nun, ever
M: And they all knew that theirs was the best way
M: They built all their affairs in the best way
F: That’s religion
M: Deemed as true, every thought they’d ever know
M:They’d insist was so, you see
F: They all built their world in
M & F: Tyranny
F: To fight, to fight, they used their gods to fight
F: Preparing for the battles each day
F: To fight, to fight. They used their gods to fight
F: Making sure others saw it their way
F: If they one day had some strange feeling
F: A miracle they’d call it
F: Explaining each strange sight
F: They’d travel far
F: And place upon the landscape a scar
F: To fight
M&F: To fight, to fight
M&F: Our God says that we’re right
M&F: And so we go all over the place
M&F: To fight, to fight
M&F: We surely have the might
M&F: To be there at the helm of our race
M&F: We know we’re on a holy mission
M&F: We’re doing what God’s asking
M&F: Because we see the light
M&F: We are so strong, and so we can’t be wrong
M&F: No we’re right to fight
M: To fight. To fight
M: Though some think that’s not bright
M: Old habits are not easy to break
F: I cannot slay. At least, not quickly
M: Try out your maid
F: She’s is an infidel
M: I love you
F: Yes, yes love incites me to kill. Let’s go.
F: Let’s get axes.
M: Yes, get axes.
F: Wait. Let’s stop at the church.
M: Tomorrow
F: Okay, we’ll pray to the prince of peace
M:At sundown
F: Yes. That’s right.
M: Don’t forget Matthew.
F: You want a threesome?
No, Matthew 7:12. The Sermon on the Mount. You know, the Golden Rule. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
M&F: To fight, To fight.
M&F: Train well, and when you kill, know you’re right
M&F: To fight
(7)
You have a history showing
All should give an affirmation
That we were made a Christian nation
With religious bosses
And so many crosses
Others eat your losses
If this fact starts you at grieving
Pack up your bags and try leaving
I like to pray in
What do you say in
Those who believe have a great edge
They stuck religion in the Pledge
And they all have an intense lust
To have a motto for God’s trust
I like to pray in
In school each day in
Our fathers looked back at history
And do you know what they did see?
Death and destruction and much war
To prevent this is what that’s for
Congress put God in
It isn’t odd in
We have the religion clauses
To counter the zealot’s causes’
Still many Christians and some Jews
Think everyone should hold their views
Congress put God in
Soon the death squad in
[Dance]
Does someone think that’s a good plan?
Well, of course, we are not the same
That we believe that is our shame
Olè!
(8) IT’S C(H)OOL (4:49)
“You want to learn? You learn in school.”
“I want to play!”
“You play in school”
“I want to socialize!”
“You socialize in school”
“I want to move!”
“You move in school”
Goys, goys, crazy goys, It’s school, goys.
Don’t get tribal over the bible
Don’t play the fool, goys
Don’t get hot, if King James is not
The version they choose
Don’t you fight to make it right
See how prayer in class makes all lose
Goys, goys, crazy goys. It’s school, goys.
Hate that new way, called the
Just be fair, let everyone share one rule, goys
Keep it from school, goys, from school
[Dance]
Goys, goys, crazy goys, It’s school, goys.
Phillie riots, Don’t know why its
Thought to be cool, goys
With each breath, to cause death is just bullstool goys
Keep it from school, goys, from school
“With this papal bull, I take your freedom
“With this disease, I take your health
“With this weapon I take your life
“With this treaty, I take your land
“With this judicial decision, I take your constitutional rights”
Isn’t it odd, one God
In such esteem one God
Can watch a dream fall apart
Life slips from his hand and heart
Isn’t it odd, one God
Year after year one God
Makes it so clear in each breath
One God, So odd
That he leads to harm and death
If he gives life, one God
Why with such strife, one God
If we are his to live well
Why grief? Why pain?
Why create this earthly hell?
(10) TO FIGHT (ENSEMBLE) (3:33)
The WASPS are gonna treat the Papists right
Get rid of what most people say’s a blight
Their crazy superstitions we’ll bust
And as for inquisitions, we’ll do what we must
We won’t be pushed around by any fools
We’ll keep our bible sitting in our schools
If they don’t like our readings, too bad
Their body of Christ feedings is one stupid fad
To fight. We got religion to fight
And we ain’t ever thinking that we should share
We’ll do it even for spite
Because the Catholics we know ain’t got a prayer
They shouldn’t be here. It ain’t their country
Their hanging round is just like giving a dare ... to fight!
Politically I think I’m here with hawks
They’re all talking about some guy, Guy Fawkes
The WASP believes he’s rotten, had too many days
The Catholic thinks he’s hot ‘n deserving of praise
To fight, to fight, they used their gods to fight
Preparing for the battles each day
To fight, to fight. They used their gods to fight
Making sure others saw it their way
If they one day had some strange feeling
A miracle they’d call it, explaining each strange sight
They’d travel far
And place upon the landscape a scar, to fight
The Catholics surely know the way to fight
Just tell us when you have a day to fight
We’ve chosen all the missions to make
We had our Inquisitions, and burned at the stake
Don’t fight, don’t fight
Oy vey, just please, don’t fight
I tell you if I just had one wish
Don’t fight, don’t fight
Be kind and be polite
We can share blintzes and a knish
You sit, and eat with one another
You know you’re still too skinny
Just sit – I’ll make it right
They hock me a chinic
For chicken soup, gefilte fish, and latkes unite
Don’t fight.
The WASPS are always real cool
Let’s smite
We’re gonna get ‘em in school
That’s bright
The Papists ain’t got a chance
To fight
We’re really sick of these games
They all can shove their King James
We have a god so we’ll fight
Papists reek
Papists reek
WASPs are weak
This really should be a ball
The WASPs are gonna have their way
The Papists sure will earn their pay
We all are ready to fight
To fight
Why not just be fair?
And trust in equality?
Why don’t you show everyone respect?
Why not just be fair?
And trust in equality?
Why don’t you show everyone respect?
Just try that equality
Why not be fair?
You just want it your way.
You just want to have it your way
You just want to have it your way.
You just want to have it your way.
Treat all as equal. Treat all as equal
So you really love your God
So you really love your God
So you really love your God (Really love my God)
Really love your God. (Really love my God)
Really. (Really). Really. (Really).
So try equality
Freedom for every conscience. Freedom as universal.
Freedom for every conscience. Freedom as universal.
Free-dom u-ni-ver-sal
It is wrong to be telling
And compelling
It is wrong, it is wrong – in religion.
Why do you repeat what has always been shown in the end to be so consistently wrong?
Treat all as equal.
I feel certain, oh so certain, that it’s hurtin’ how certain I feel
And so certain, that I’m working for a great ideal
I feel certain, oh so certain, I feel certain convertin’s all right
As long as it’s not done with some ruler’s oversight
Keep religion out of the government
That is just not where it should be
As the framers knew, that’s the best way to
Ensure me and you will be ever free
I feel certain, oh so certain, not desertin’ what certainty brings
That with equal rights liberty sings
Have you met the document’s father
The most brilliant man on the block
You can question him, but why bother
His thinking is solid it’s just like a rock
He listened to all, he was rather kind
Though physically small, he had a huge mind
He ought to, instead, be much better known
It’s too bad he’s dead, ‘cause now he can’t phone
Just remember him, as a genius
Are there pictures you’ve ever seen
You surely should keep one with you today
In your wallet since it is worth $5K
I feel certain, oh so certain,
That I’m flirtin’ with ultimate truth
And so certain, ‘cause I am a rather skillful sleuth
I feel certain, oh so certain,
That revertin’ to governments past
Would be curtains, and a system that would never last
See how I fall back on equality
It is just see easy to do
Why choose other ways
Spending endless days
When religion stays for each to pursue
I feel certain, oh so certain
That it’s hurtin’ when people deny
Simply being fair
Give it a try!
In God some don’t trust
No, in God some don’t trust
They prefer for their faith to be
Placed instead in humanity
In God some don’t trust
No, in God some don’t trust
All can pray in the public square
All can pray, in fact, anywhere
But there. Be fair.
The Constitution’s dominion
Does protect every opinion. Be fair
In God some don’t trust
No, in God some don’t trust
If you see Him then good for you
But for others he’s just not true
Show care, Let’s share. Be fair
(14) GEE, JUSTICE O’CONNOR (4:25)
Dear kind Justice O’Conno,’ you gotta understand
That just because you wanna have God throughout the land
We have a First Amendment which does quite clearly say
In religion, no group gets its way
Yes Justice O’Connor, we know that you’re wise
But some don’t think that God can ever solemnize
A justice’s job is to look and to see
That there are those who disagree
Disagree. Disagree. Surely you can see.
That with God, some simply disagree
Justice O’Connor says
that the only way to solemnize a public occasion is to
reference the deity. Right.
Like if Abraham Lincoln had not decided at the last
minute to stick the two words, “under God,” into
his famous speech, everyone
would have just been partying that day on the
battlefield at
Dear kind Justice O’Conno,’ we don’t mean to be short
But what happened to treating people equal in that Court
We have a bit of trouble deciphering your views
What’s next seating in a bunch of pews?
Right Justice O’Connor, at times you’re so good
At showing others deference the way that you should
We’re talking religion, with many inclined
To look at others as if blind
As if blind, as if blind, People are inclined
In religion to see as if blind
Justice O’Connor says
that Atheists – at least, in American society – are
incapable of expressing confidence in the future.
Obviously, that’s absurd.
But it would certainly
be understandable with them residing in a nation whose
Supreme Court members
are so willing to disregard their religious views.
Dear kind Justice O’Connor, it’s clear that one can choose
To show religious bias against Muslims or the Jews
Of course, you wouldn’t do that, because it’s not PC
But I guess with Atheists like me
You feel there’s no fallout. There isn’t a risk
Support for this minority has never been brisk
Perhaps that is why those great framers could see
All get to share in liberty
That it’s all who share in liberty
The Establishment
Clause exists to protect every religious view and every
religious sect. In this day and age – with teenage pregnancy,
AIDS and
overpopulation – isn’t it time to put an end to unprotected sects?
Dear kind Justice O’Connor, you said that to be fair
The government should not promote what all do not share
Well, rather inconsistent, is how you sure do seem
Some deny a being that’s supreme
Right Justice O’Connor, we’re down on our knees
Not praying, no, just hoping you will cure the disease
Where you think the State should take your point of view
Justice O’Connor, that’s not true
That’s not true. That’s not true. That’s not true
No that’s just not true. It’s a thought the Framers would all rue.
The trouble is her bias. The trouble is she’s blind.
The trouble is she’s pious, And has stuck in her mind
That it is just a given, That there’s a deity.
Sandra, baby, some just don’t agree.
Yes, Justice O’Connor, c’mon get inspired
Of course it matters little now that you are retired
Still government, you recall, should never dare
Endorse a belief all don’t share!
Justice Scalia:
There’s just one god, and not another
Other beliefs we’re right to smother
Those people are wrong
They surely are wrong
A plan like yours will cause such sorrow
Embrace that plan – forget tomorrow
Those people are wrong
They surely are wrong
Other beliefs don’t show love
Other beliefs have no heart
They’ll take our nation and they’ll tear it all apart
There’s no heart,
Without one god, you will see only
That humankind will all be lonely
There will be no love
They are all wrong
Just wait and see, Just wait
James Madison:
Oh, no, Scalia, no, Scalia no
It isn’t true not for us
It is a stain it’s not a plus
Just look around
History shows just what we need
To succeed, Scalia, to succeed
Is respect for each man’s intellect
You surely know that this is best, that this is best
You surely know to be free
Just have equality that’s the way
C’mon say you believe it, too
Oh, no, Scalia, no, you should know better
You read the text, or so you said
You should know better.
I have a plan to respect every man to believe he also has rights
Religion is strong
When what is right and wrong
Each does choose
Strife disappears when we each shed our fears of not being all in control
Of others’ beliefs, The tyrants are the thieves
We are all humankind. And everybody is equal.
And each can choose the God he will trust. Or choose none.
We all ought to see how with equality
We all can be free
All can pray in the public square
All can pray, in fact, anywhere
But there. Be fair.
They were amazing men,
who blessed us with a wondrous notion, one that they
essentially invented: that government will stay out of
the religion business. During
the Constitutional Convention,
Religion itself may
become a motive to persecution & oppression.
These observations are
verified by the Histories of every Country
antient &
modern.
They gave us the
blueprint to avoid that history in this country. Why would anyone
fight this?Why would
people not want to see their fellow citizens treated with the
same respect they wish for themselves? Why go
out of your way to see equality violated?
Help reinforce that
which has made us so strong in terms of our religious beliefs: that we
the people of the