The Bothered Son And Phony Ghost

there's an old priest standing at the back of the sanctuary
smilin at the church-folk
thinking "fooled 'em for another week.
i fake it through some sermon
and mumble through some ancient song
i'm sure nobody buys it,
but everyone still plays along."

the kids are getting married young
cause otherwise it'd be a sin
their bodies tell them they're ready
but the bible tells them different
divorce is even worse (of course)
so settle down for life
and pray that the first girl you touch will make a good wife.

the church is raising kids to throw away the only life they got
and live for the ever after
it's a gamble, but it's worth a shot
their explanations for existence never came close
that's where it leaves us:
the bothered son and phony ghost.

jesus was still a sinner, just with good connections
he liked to talk real loud
and some didn't like what he had to say
he shot off his mouth and they roughed him up pretty good
but daddy knew some thugs who'd make those fuckers pay.

the old priest is sleeping through his prayers, not sure what they do
but you just get so lonely, it's nice to have someone to talk to
he's so excited for apocolypse, he understands
that suicide's a sin, but everyone just wants it to end.

i remember when i was 12 and i was sick of all this questioning
sick of sittin' on fences between religion and reality
so i sat him down and i said "i think we need to talk.
i need some closure, i need to know if you exist at all."

"right here and right now, we're sorting this out."

"cause i got some questions
and i want some answers
this is your last chance
and i want some answers."
the silence i heard
i knew what it meant
it meant that if he was real either he wasn't listening
or he was saying: "figure it out for yourself."